WALTHAM, MA–Udit Batra is Chief Executive Officer of MilliporeSigma, the $6 billion life science business of Germany-based Merck KGaA, and a member of its Executive Board. Mr. Batra is the first American to hold this position in the company’s 350-year history.
In addition to leading MilliporeSigma, Mr. Batra has Board responsibility for the company’s global Business Technology function. On Nov. 15, he will be honored with 2019 New England Choice Awards as Business Person of the Year at Westin Hotel in Waltham, MA.
Born in New Delhi, India, Mr. Batra is an accomplished executive who has dedicated his career to improving health for people globally. After he became CEO in 2014, he and his MilliporeSigma team developed and executed a growth strategy that included the 2015 acquisition of chemicals and technology giant Sigma-Aldrich. Mr. Batra architected and led this merger — the largest acquisition in the history of Merck KGaA, and one of the largest ever in the life science industry.
Today, Mr. Batra continues to lead the business through a strategic transformation that has made MilliporeSigma a top-three player in the industry and an employer of choice in many regions where it operates around the world.
Based in Burlington, MA, MilliporeSigma was named to The Boston Globe’s annual “Top Places to Work” list in 2016 and 2017, and received an exclusive certification as a top employer in North America by the independent Top Employers Institute in 2018 for the second year in a row. Also under Batra’s leadership, MilliporeSigma has earned several prestigious awards for innovation, including the R&D 100 Award for Top Innovations in 2016; a Life Science Industry Award by BioInformatics in 2016; and an R&D 100 Award for Corporate Responsibility in 2017.
Prior to Merck KGaA, Mr. Batra served in a range of leadership positions at Novartis, a Swiss multinational pharmaceutical company. In addition to leading Corporate Strategy and Global Public Health and Market Access for Vaccines and Diagnostics, he also served as president of the Australia Pharma business.
Here is a brief Q/A with Mr. Batra:
INDIA New England News: What do you like most about work?
Udit Batra: Opportunity to use technology to improve drug discovery and manufacturing and, as a consequence, accelerate access to health to people globally; Learning from incredible colleagues.
INE: Who has inspired you the most and why?
UB: Lots of people, but for different things:
o My mom – to be compassionate.
o My dad – to be persistent.
o My wife – to love without demonstration.
o My great teachers – for giving me courage to fulfill my dreams.
o My grandma – to be ambitious.
o Swami Vivekananda and Dalai Lama– for making spirituality practical.
INE: What has been the secret of your success?
UB: I am simply a representative – success belongs to my team and my family.
INE: The one piece of advice you give to the person you love?
UB: Have compassion for everyone you know…even if you don’t initially like them. This is the only secret to lasting happiness.
INE: How do you look at failure?
UB: A pause to reflect on your ambition.
INE: Your favorite book?
UB: The Alchemist.
INE: Your favorite quote?
UB: “And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.” -Pablo Coelho, The Alchemist
INE: Your top three favorite movies?
UB:
- Sholay
- Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro
- The Lion King.
