Matthew W. Emmens

Mr. Emmens is Chairman and CEO of Vertex. He has over 35 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, including Shire Pharmaceuticals Group plc and businesses operated by Merck KGaA and Merck & Co. He became our Chairman, CEO and President in 2009 and has been a member of our Board of Directors since 2004.

Mr. Emmens is the Chairman of the Board of Directors of Shire Pharmaceuticals and was its Chief Executive Officer from March 2003 through June 2008. Before joining Shire in 2003, Mr. Emmens served as president of Merck KGaA’s global prescription pharmaceuticals business in Darmstadt, Germany. In 1999, he joined Merck KGaA and established EMD Pharmaceuticals, its United States prescription pharmaceutical business. Mr. Emmens held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer at EMD Pharmaceuticals from 1999 to 2001. Earlier, Mr. Emmens held various positions, including Chief Executive Officer, at Astra Merck, Inc. as well as several positions at Merck & Co., Inc. Mr. Emmens holds a B.S. degree in business management from Fairleigh Dickinson University.