What Does Merial Do?

Total employees1778
HeadquartersLyon
Founded1997

Merial was a global, innovation-driven animal health company that provided a comprehensive range of products to enhance the health, well-being, and performance of a wide range of animal species, including companion animals, production animals (like cattle and swine), and avian species. Its portfolio included vaccines, parasiticides, and other pharmaceutical products. Merial was formed in 1997 as a joint venture between Merck & Co. (MSD Animal Health) and Sanofi-Aventis (Rhône Mérieux). In January 2017, Merial was acquired by Boehringer Ingelheim and its operations were integrated into Boehringer Ingelheim's Animal Health business unit, making Boehringer Ingelheim the second-largest animal health business globally.

Where Is Merial's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Served as the central hub for global operations, strategic decision-making, research and development leadership, and administrative functions for Merial's worldwide animal health business.

Notable Features:

The Lyon Gerland technology park, where Merial was located, is known as a major European hub for life sciences and biotechnology, likely featuring advanced laboratory and research facilities.

Work Culture:

As a research-driven company, the culture likely emphasized scientific innovation, collaboration, a commitment to animal welfare, and a global mindset. It would have been a dynamic environment focused on developing and delivering solutions to veterinarians, farmers, and pet owners.

HQ Significance:

The Lyon headquarters was significant as it underscored Merial's French roots (through Rhône Mérieux) and its position as a major player in the global animal health industry, strategically located in a prominent European life sciences cluster.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters likely reflected values such as innovation, scientific excellence, global reach, and a dedication to advancing animal health.

Location:

Prior to its acquisition by Boehringer Ingelheim, Merial had a significant global presence, operating in more than 150 countries. This included R&D centers, manufacturing sites, and sales and marketing operations across North America, South America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Africa. Its functions supported veterinarians, livestock producers, and pet owners worldwide with a broad portfolio of vaccines, parasiticides, and therapeutic pharmaceuticals.

Street Address:

29 Avenue Tony Garnier

City:

Lyon

State/Province:

Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Country:

France

Where Else Does Merial Operate Around the World?

Duluth, Georgia, USA

Address: 3239 Satellite Blvd, Duluth, GA 30096, USA (historical address)

Key site for research, development, manufacturing, and commercial operations for the Americas region.

Piracicaba, Brazil

Address: Rodovia SP 135, Km 13,5 Bairro Tupi, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil (historical address)

Strategic location for serving the significant livestock market in Brazil and Latin America with tailored animal health solutions.

Nanjing, China

Address: Nanjing Economic and Technological Development Zone, Nanjing, China (general location)

Supported the growing animal health needs in Asia, particularly in the poultry sector, with local production.

Buying Intent Signals for Merial

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Merial? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Merial' leadership includes:

Carsten Hellmann - CEO of Merial (at the time of acquisition)
Joachim Hasenmaier - Head of Animal Health, Boehringer Ingelheim (oversaw integration)
José Barella - Former CEO of Merial (stepped down in 2013)

Who's Investing in Merial?

Merial has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Merck & Co. (MSD Animal Health)
Sanofi-Aventis (through its animal health business, Rhône Mérieux)

What Leadership Changes Has Merial Seen Recently?

Hire0
Exits0

Executive movements at Merial largely culminated with its acquisition by Boehringer Ingelheim in 2017. Post-acquisition, leadership was integrated into the Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health structure. Specific hires/exits for Merial as an independent entity in its final 12 months are not readily available; most news focused on the transition.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byMerial?

Discover the tools Merial uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Merial Email Formats and Examples

Historically, Merial likely used common corporate email formats. As Merial was acquired and integrated into Boehringer Ingelheim, these email formats are no longer active. Communications would now use Boehringer Ingelheim's email system.

Typically [first].[last]@merial.com or [first_initial][last]@merial.com

Format

jane.doe@merial.com

Example

0 (domain inactive or redirects)%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Merial?

Boehringer IngelheimJanuary 2, 2017

Boehringer Ingelheim successfully completes acquisition of Merial

Boehringer Ingelheim announced the successful closing of the business swap with Sanofi. As of January 1st 2017, Merial became part of Boehringer Ingelheim. This transaction strategically strengthens Boehringer Ingelheim's position as a global leader in animal health....more

ReutersDecember 30, 2016

Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim seal $25 billion asset swap

French drugmaker Sanofi and Germany's Boehringer Ingelheim finalized a $25 billion asset swap, with Sanofi exchanging its Merial animal health business for Boehringer's consumer healthcare unit....more

Veterinary Practice NewsJuly 27, 2016

Merial launches NexGard for dogs in Canada

Merial Canada Inc. launched NexGard, a beef-flavored chewable for the treatment and control of fleas and ticks in dogs and puppies 8 weeks of age and older....more

Highperformr's free tools for company research

Explore Employees by Region or Country

See where a company’s workforce is located, by country or region.

View Funding Details

View past and recent funding rounds with amounts and investors.

Understand Revenue Insights

Understand company revenue estimates and financial scale.

Track Active Job Openings

Track active roles and hiring trends to spot growth signals.

Review Product and Offerings

Discover what a company offers—products, platforms, and solutions.

Get SIC or NAICS Codes

Get the company’s official SIC and NAICS classifications.

Analyze Website Traffic Trends

Analyze visitor volume, engagement, and top traffic sources.

Discover Social Profiles and Engagement

Explore LinkedIn, Twitter, and other active social profiles.

Identify Top Competitors

Identify top competitors based on similar business traits.

Research and Discover Companies with Highperformr — Smarter, Faster

Explore companies in depth — from the tech they use to recent funding, hiring trends, and buyer signals — all in one powerful view.

Highperformr AI helps you surface the right accounts and enrich your CRM with verified company and contact insights, so your teams can prioritize and engage faster.

  • Track intent signals to find buyers who are actively in-market
  • Enrich contacts and companies instantly, no need to switch tools
  • Automate workflows to stay ahead of every change
  • Connect your CRM & tools for seamless data sync and activation

Thousands of companies, including Merial, are just a search away.