Tertius (Werner) Baumann

Werner Baumann is a distinguished German business executive who served as Chairman of the Board of Management (CEO) of Bayer AG from 2016 to 2023, leading one of the world's largest pharmaceutical and agricultural companies. Born in Krefeld, Germany, in 1962, Baumann became the first member of his family to attend university, studying economics at RWTH Aachen University and the University of Cologne. His remarkable 35-year career at Bayer showcased exceptional strategic leadership and transformational vision. After joining the company in 1988 in the Corporate Finance Department, Baumann gained extensive international experience across Europe, Spain, and the United States, progressively advancing through key financial and strategic roles. As CFO from 2010 to 2016, he demonstrated outstanding financial acumen and strategic planning capabilities. Upon becoming CEO, Baumann's most defining achievement was orchestrating the $62 billion acquisition of Monsanto within just four weeks of his appointment, transforming Bayer into a leading global agricultural company while maintaining its pharmaceutical excellence. Under his leadership, Bayer invested over €35 billion in research and development, with the Leaps by Bayer impact investment arm deploying more than $1.7 billion across 55+ companies. Baumann championed sustainability initiatives, achieving MSCI ESG rating upgrade from BB to A and setting ambitious climate neutrality goals for 2030. His tenure resulted in significant financial performance improvements, with currency- and portfolio-adjusted sales increasing by approximately 9% to €50.7 billion and Clean EBITDA rising 21% to €13.5 billion. Baumann's leadership style emphasized strategic focus, operational excellence, and sustainable innovation, establishing him as a respected figure in global pharmaceutical and agricultural industries.