Former J & J executive joins Bayer to manage Acquisitions and Licensing deals.

Bayer has hired Marianne De Backer to manage all acquisitions and licensing deals within its pharmaceutical unit to boost its development pipeline.
Marianne joins from rival Johnson and Johnson and will be taking on the role of Head of Business Development and Licensing in the pharmaceutical division. She will take on a more senior role compared to her predecessor by taking a seat at the Executive Committee.
Bayer stated last year that it would lean on external firms and institutions for a better pipeline with in their drug development, and have agreed deals to sell consumer health brand Dr Scholl’s and Coppertone, and it’s animal health business to reduce the debt from their takeover of Monsanto.