Per Wold-Olsen, a Norwegian national, was born on November 6, 1947. He holds an MBA in economics and marketing. Per joined Merck & Co. (MSD) in 1974. He became Managing Director of the Norwegian subsidiary in 1976 and Regional Director and Vice President for the Scandinavian region in 1986. In 1991, Per Wold-Olsen was appointed Executive Vice President of Worldwide Human Health Marketing of Merck & Co. Inc. in the United States, and in 1994 he was appointed President of Human Health Europe of Merck & Co. Inc. In 1997, his region expanded to include Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and Worldwide Human Health Marketing.

In 2005, he was appointed President of the Human Health Intercontinental Region of Merck & Co. Inc. from 1994 to 2006, and was a member of the Merck Executive Committee. Per Wold-Olsen is Chairman of the Board of GN Store Nord A/S in Denmark and Medicines for Malaria Venture in Switzerland. He is a member of the Board of Directors of Gilead Sciences Inc. in the US. He has also been a member of the Board of Directors of Novo Holdings since 2011.