Bayer today announced the new Executive Leadership Team for the Crop Science division 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. Condon is also responsible for Bayer’s Animal Health business unit and has over 25 years of experience in leading and growing businesses in the agriculture and health industries.
The new team will go into effect at closing of Bayer’s proposed acquisition of Monsanto, which is still subject to pending regulatory approval. The companies are hoping to close the transaction in the second quarter of 2018. Monsanto CEO Hugh Grant announced that he will leave Monsanto at the closing of the acquisition.
Several current Monsanto executives will be part of the new team, including:
• 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.
• Dr. 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.
• Dr. Robert Reiter will be Head of Research & Development. He is the current Technology Integration Planning Lead at Monsanto. He will be based in Monheim.
During last year’s Future of Farming Dialog, Condon talked with agricultural journalists about goals for the company moving forward.
“The most important thing is what the combined new company is going to stand for,” says Condon. “It’s all about generating more innovation faster that will benefit our growers and help them improve their yields, but also their profitability.”
Listen to the full interview with Bayer’s Liam Condon here: Liam Condon, Bayer