Effective May 1, 2016, Werner Baumann will become the new Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG (Leverkusen, Germany; www.bayer.com). The current CEO of Bayer AG, Marijn Dekkers, proposed to the Supervisory Board that his contract be dissolved effective April 30, 2016, following the Annual Stockholders’ Meeting. The Supervisory Board approved this proposal. “With its clear focus on the Life Science businesses and its new organizational structure, Bayer is in a position of strength. The course for successful future development has already been set at all levels. Also with a successor from within the company there will be no need for a familiarization period. I would like to wish Werner Baumann every success in his new role,” said Dekkers, whose contract was originally set to run until December 31, 2016. At the present time, Baumann is the Board member with responsibility for Strategy and Portfolio Management. He will retain these functions in the future. Going forward, the Board of Management of Bayer AG will comprise seven members instead of eight.
“Following rapid implementation of the realignment under Dr. Dekkers’ leadership, Bayer is now entering a new era as a pure Life Science company. That is why this is now the right time to hand on responsibility for managing the company. We are very grateful to Dr. Dekkers. During his term of office, Bayer has experienced an extraordinary development in both operational and strategic terms,” said Werner Wenning, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bayer AG. “In Werner Baumann, Bayer has a strong and experienced management personality from within its own ranks. In his various positions at Bayer and as a member of the Board of Management since 2010, he has contributed substantially to strengthening and realigning the company. We are convinced that, under Werner Baumann’s leadership, Bayer will continue along its track of successful development,” Wenning said.
Werner Baumann has been a member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG since January 1, 2010. Prior to September 30, 2014, he served as Bayer AG’s Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Effective October 1, 2014, he was appointed Chief Strategy and Portfolio Officer (CSPO) with responsibility for Corporate Development and Mergers & Acquisitions. He is also responsible for the Europe region. Between April 1 and December 31, 2015, Baumann was additionally Chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer HealthCare AG.