Focus
Change at the top
Another milestone in the history of the Bayer Group was reached on October 1, when Werner Wenning handed over the chairmanship of the Bayer AG Board of Management to Dr. Marijn Dekkers. “Bayer was and is my company. And my heart will continue to beat for Bayer,” Wenning admitted at a ceremony attended by some 300 people from industry, politics, sports and society. Dekkers stressed that “My goal is the same as that of all my predecessors. We want the best for Bayer and Bayer’s stakeholders.”
Zoom imageWerner Wenning (left) presents his successor, Dr. Marijn Dekkers, with a relay baton.
There were moving moments for the guests invited to the event at Bayer’s “Kasino” hotel in Leverkusen. Looking back at the nearly 45 years he worked for Bayer, Wenning said: “There were many things that inspired and fascinated me.” For Wenning, it was the company’s internationalism, its people and its research that made Bayer so fascinating. “Bayer is and will remain an inventor company. That is something we can all be proud of.”
Wenning thanked the Supervisory Board and its Chairman for their effective cooperation, his colleagues on the Board of Management for their unity in all decision-making, and the works councils for being fair and dependable partners. “I would like to thank all the company’s employees worldwide, without whose active support we would never have reached the goals we set for ourselves,” he said. He also expressly thanked his wife: “Bayer and my family – these are the two constants that have influenced and shaped my life.” Wenning’s speech was followed by prolonged applause.
Referring to his successor, Dr. Marijn Dekkers, Wenning said: “He is the right man in the right place at the right time.” Dekkers worked with Wenning on the Board of Management for three quarters of a year. “In these nine months, Mr. Dekkers, you have seen and learned more about Bayer than some people do in 25 years with the company,” Wenning remarked. In keeping with tradition, the departing CEO presented the new leader with a relay baton made of Makrolon®. Inside the baton are all the notes containing handwritten messages from each CEO to his successor. Wenning’s words to Dr. Dekkers are: “Dear Mr. Dekkers, to be truly happy you need three things: someone you love, a challenging task and a great deal of hope. I believe you have all these things. Your predecessor Werner Wenning.”
Successful journey
Zoom imageFour generations of Bayer CEOs: Werner Wenning, Hermann Josef Strenger, Dr. Manfred Schneider and Dr. Marijn Dekkers (from left).
New Management Board Chairman Dekkers told his predecessor: “Mr. Wenning, you put Bayer well ahead in our relay race of the generations. I will do everything I can to be a worthy successor. That applies especially to dealing fairly with the employees and employee representatives. This good relationship is the foundation for Bayer’s tremendous success, and I don’t intend to change it.” He expressly thanked his predecessor, the Supervisory Board and its Chairman, his colleagues on the Board of Management, and the employee representatives: “You have done everything to ensure that this transfer of leadership goes smoothly and that the conditions are in place for a successful journey together.”
Dekkers said he is proud to have been given the opportunity to lead Bayer. “Bayer is among the world’s leading companies. It is very well managed and highly competitive in all areas.” Dekkers, too, spoke of the fascination the inventor company holds for him. He made it clear that he has always been passionate about investing in employee development. “A company is only as good as its employees. That’s why they have to be well trained and highly motivated, which they are at Bayer.”
Zoom imageThe evening event for some 300 guests at the Bayer Kasino ended with a performance by the Bayer Men’s Choir.
Supervisory Board Chairman Dr. Manfred Schneider honored Werner Wenning as a man “who has made an enormous contribution to Bayer’s evolution. That’s why we owe him a special debt of gratitude and recognition for his highly successful work on behalf of the entire Bayer Group.” He said that Wenning had strategically realigned the company, focused on Bayer’s own innovative capability and committed it to the principle of sustainability. Said Schneider: “We know Bayer as a healthy, well positioned company that can look to the future with confidence.” The Supervisory Board Chairman said he hoped Dekkers would find a path “that will continue the successful development of our Bayer Group.”
Thomas de Win, Chairman of Bayer’s Central Works Council, pointed out that Bayer is also a very good company in terms of its human resources policies. “For this I would like to sincerely thank the Board of Management led by Mr. Wenning.” Turning to Dekkers, de Win said: “After our initial discussions, I am confident that you will not only continue to lead Bayer along the road to economic success, but that you will also preserve our company’s proven culture of togetherness.”