Bayer's proposed acquisition of Monsanto is still subject to regulatory approval, but today the company announced the selection of a new Executive Leadership Team for the Crop Science Division, which will go into effect as of the closing. Bayer and Monsanto continue to work closely with regulators to close the transaction in the second quarter of 2018.
The team will be led by Liam Condon (pictured above), 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," Werner Wenning, chairman of the Supervisory Board of Bayer AG, said in a statement.
"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," said Werner Baumann, chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG.
Grant today announced his intent to leave Monsanto at the closing of the acquisition. Other executive team members who are departing after closing include: Chief Financial Officer Pierre Courduroux, Chief Technology Officer Robert Fraley, Chief of Staff and Community Relations Janet Holloway, Chief Human Resources Officer Steven Mizell, Chief Strategy Officer Kerry Preete, Controller Nicole Ringenberg, and Secretary and General Counsel David Snively, according to the statement.
The new Executive Leadership Team will be made up 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 0fficer 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 also 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," said 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."
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