Bayer taps ex-Novartis COO as new head of health care unit; pays milestone to Micromet in antibody collaboration

Germany's Bayer group yesterday revealed that it had recruited Jorg Reinhardt as chairman of the board of management of Bayer HealthCare AG and chairman of the Bayer HealthCare Executive Committee, effective August 15, 2010. The 54-year-old German national was most recently chief operating officer of Novartis AG where, in January, he was by-passed for the top job at the Swiss drug major in favor of Joe Jimenez to replace Daniel Vasella.

"Dr Reinhardt is an acknowledged expert with many years of experience in the health care industry," commented Werner Wenning, chairman of the Board of Management of Bayer AG, adding: "We are convinced of his ability to provide a decisive impetus to our global HealthCare business and further expand our strong competitive positions."

Current HealthCare chief executive Arthur Higgins will leave the company as planned on April 30, at his own request which was announced last year. "Over the past years, Arthur Higgins has made a decisive contribution to the restructuring and strengthening of Bayer HealthCare and has set new trends," said Mr Wenning. Marijn Dekkers, a member of the Bayer AG board of management and its designated chairman on Mr Wenning's retirement, will additionally take over as head of Bayer HealthCare on a temporary basis as planned from May 1 until Dr Reinhardt's appointment takes effect.