Verizon is expanding its board of directors. 

On Thursday the carrier announced that its board has elected Karl-Ludwig Kley, Chairman of the Executive Board and Chief Executive Officer of Merck KGaA, as a director. 

Kley will start immediately. Verizon said he has not yet been named to a board committee. 

Merck recently announced that Kley will be leaving the company in April of next year. Stefan Oschmann will take his place.