Bayer to Divest Environmental Science Professional Business
On Feb. 24, Bayer announced a series of decisions to accelerate the strategy implementation of its Crop Science division. In order to focus on its core agricultural business, this includes the intent to divest the company’s Environmental Science Professional business.
The business is a global leader offering environmental solutions to control pests, disease and weeds in non-agricultural areas such as vector control, ornamentals, industrial vegetation management, forestry and turf. The Environmental Science Professional business had sales of approximately $731.5 million in 2019.
To further drive performance and growth in the division’s most important commercial region, Bayer has named Jacqueline M. Applegate to lead the Crop Science North America region effective March 1, 2021. She currently heads the division’s Environmental Science and Vegetable Seeds businesses. In addition to her appointment, the company named Jeremy Williams, currently Global Head of Plant Biotechnology at Crop Science, as new head of the Climate Corporation and Digital Farming, and Tom Armitage from Mondelez as head of Global Communications for Crop Science. Both are effective March 15, 2021.
In addition, Bayer appointed Gilles Galliou, currently head of commercial operations for Bayer Vegetable Seeds Americas, to lead the Environmental Science business and the planned divestment.