Merck reviews

Promotions to exec levels are not necessarily based on accomplishments on priority projects and/or on top yearly reviews. Management picks certain employees to lead initiatives as a path to exec promotion. Employees who want to advance to executive levels need to work with their management to be assigned to initiatives early on to have an eventual shot at at an exec level promotion. If management does not offer such opportunities after a significant period of time (despite very positive yearly reviews) its a nuanced way of conveying that you can still have a satisfying career but not as an executive.

pay is not competitive, site level management lacks diversity