Bayer HealthCare names new chairman

Bayer HealthCare has announced the appointment of Werner Baumann, an existing member of the Bayer board of management, as its new chairman.

Mr Baumann has been appointed as the successor to Olivier Brandicourt, who has been selected as the new chief executive officer (CEO) of Sanofi. He is leaving Bayer on April 2nd 2015, with Mr Baumann taking over on the same date.

The new HealthCare division chairman will remain a member of the company's board of management and executive council, while retaining responsibility for strategy and portfolio management and for the Europe region.

He held a number of leading positions with Bayer from 2002 to 2009 and has been a member of the board since 2010, with previous roles including those of chief financial officer and chief strategy and portfolio officer.

Dr Marijn Dekkers, chairman of the board of management of Bayer, said: "I am very pleased that Werner Baumann will be leading our HealthCare business. He is a highly experienced leader with extensive expertise in this area."

Dr Dekkers also gave thanks to Mr Brandicourt, whose success with Bayer earned him the opportunity to step into the CEO role vacated by Christopher Viehbacher at Sanofi.