Dutch infant nutrition and food group Royal Numico said it will appoint Mr Per Wold-Olsen, a member of pharma company Merck's management, to the Numico Supervisory Board.

A proposal to this effect will be made at an Extraordinary General Meeting of Shareholders planned in September 2003.

Per Wold-Olsen is president of Merck & Co's Human Health business in Europe, Middle East and Africa and is also responsible for its Worldwide Human Health Marketing group. US-based Merck & Co had revenues of $51.8 billion in 2002.

Rob Zwartendijk, chairman of the Supervisory Board, said that Wold-Olsen's background and experience would "provide us with additional support for our clinical nutrition division". It also represents an important step in the internationalisation of the Supervisory Board, added Zwartendijk.

Last week Numico sold its US vitamin maker Rexall Sundown to NBTY for €213 million.