Merck has appointed Tim McKnight as Senior Vice President, IT Risk Management & Security and Chief Information Security Officer, where he will lead global IT risk management initiatives and oversee cybersecurity strategies focused on safeguarding sensitive data and strengthening the company’s risk posture across its operations.

In this role, McKnight will work closely with cross-functional teams to enhance security protocols and compliance measures across the enterprise.

McKnight brings over 30 years of experience as a security professional, spanning government service and the private sector. Most recently, he served as Chief Information Security Officer at UnitedHealth Group. Previously, he was EVP and Chief Security Officer at SAP, where he was responsible for driving the company’s global security program. Earlier in his career, he held senior security leadership roles at Thomson Reuters, GE, Fidelity Investments and Northrop Grumman.

McKnight shared in a LinkedIn post, “At this point in my career, joining a company with a clear and meaningful purpose mattered deeply. Merck’s commitment to saving and improving lives one breakthrough at a time—and to building a world where patients, caregivers and communities have hope—is exactly what I was looking for. I’m proud to partner with teams across the company to help accelerate innovation and strengthen resilience so our colleagues can stay focused on what matters most: patients.”