Bayer today announced the selection of the new Executive Leadership Team for the Crop Science division, which will go into effect as of the closing of Bayer’s proposed acquisition of Monsanto. The closing is still subject to pending regulatory approval. Bayer and Monsanto continue to work closely with regulators in order to close the transaction in the second quarter of 2018.
The new Executive Leadership Team will be led by Liam Condon, who continues to serve as a member of Bayer’s Board of Management and as President of the Crop Science Division headquartered in Monheim, Germany. He is also responsible for Bayer’s Animal Health business unit. “Liam Condon brings over 25 years of experience in leading and growing businesses in the agriculture and health industries. We are convinced that he will successfully lead the combined Crop Science business,” says Werner Wenning, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bayer AG.
“I would like to sincerely thank the leadership teams at Bayer and Monsanto, and especially Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant, for their tremendous support throughout the transaction process,” says Werner Baumann, chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG. Hugh Grant announced his intent to leave Monsanto at the closing of the acquisition of Monsanto by Bayer.
The Executive Leadership Team will be comprised of the following functions, which will have integrated responsibility for the combined business activities of Bayer’s Crop Science Division and Monsanto following the closing of the acquisition.
• Brett Begemann will become head of Commercial Operations (Chief Operating Officer). He currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer at Monsanto. Begemann will be based in St. Louis.
• Michael Stern will become head of Digital Farming / Climate Corporation. He currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Monsanto’s Climate Corporation. Stern will be based in St. Louis.
• Robert Reiter will be head of Research & Development. He is the current Technology Integration Planning Lead at Monsanto. He will be based in Monheim.
• Frank Terhorst will become head of Crop Strategy & Portfolio Management. Currently, he is responsible for Pre-Merger Planning within Bayer’s Crop Science Division. Terhorst will be based in St. Louis.
• Dirk Backhaus will serve as the head of Product Supply. He currently holds the same position within Bayer’s Crop Science Division. He will be based in Monheim.
• Jesus Madrazo will become head of Agricultural Affairs & Sustainability. Currently, he is responsible for Global Supply Chain and Commercial Operations at Monsanto. Madrazo will be based in Monheim.
• James Swanson will become Crop Science Chief Information Officer and head of IT / Digital Transformation. He currently serves as Chief Information Officer at Monsanto. He will be based in Monheim.
• Gabriele Oehlschlaeger will serve as head of Human Resources. Currently, she is responsible for Talent Management within Bayer’s Human Resources & Organization. She will be based in Monheim.
• Michael Schulz will become Chief Financial Officer Crop Science and head of Finance. He is currently responsible for Finance for Bayer’s Crop Science Division and will be based in St. Louis.
• Lars Benecke will become head of Law, Patents and Compliance. He currently holds the same position within Bayer’s Crop Science Division and will be based in Monheim.
• Martin Dawkins will become head of Post-Merger Integration. Currently, he is responsible for Post-Merger Integration within Bayer’s Crop Science Division. Dawkins will be based in Monheim.
“These leadership appointments represent a major step forward for Crop Science to realize the vision of the combined organization: to provide farmers with smarter ways to grow more nutritious and affordable food for a growing world population, whilst simultaneously protecting natural resources and the environment,” says Condon. “The selection of the new Executive Leadership Team represents the culmination of a very thoughtful and systematic process to identify and recruit the most capable leaders who can best work together as a high performing team.”
The appointments will only become effective with the closing of Bayer’s acquisition of Monsanto which depends on receipt of the required regulatory approvals. Until that date, both companies will continue to operate as competitors under their current structures.
