Our customers worldwide are becoming increasingly diverse. In 1950, Merck consisted of 5,000 mostly American employees and operated in 21 countries. Today's Merck is nearly 60,000 employees strong, with sales of our products in more than 150 countries.  In the United States, the Census has predicted a profound ethnic shift in the next 50 years. Globally, the proportion of Europeans and Americans — those within our traditional markets — is shrinking. However, as poverty is addressed worldwide, we are seeing increasing numbers of people able to access the benefits of globalization. Our diverse customers want products that meet their specific needs. Understanding these needs is critical for Merck and we believe the best way to do that is to ensure we have diverse perspectives within our workforce and among our suppliers.