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Bayer is closing the loop on its leadership succession plan for its U.S.-based operations in Whippany, naming a new senior Bayer representative and president of Bayer U.S. 

Sebastian Guth, Bayer’s president of Pharmaceuticals Americas, will assume the role June 30, the company announced June 21. 

Earlier this month, Bayer announced Dave Tomasi had been promoted to president, Consumer Health North America (CH NA), succeeding Patrick Lockwood-Taylor, president of Bayer U.S. and CH NA, who accepted the CEO position at Dublin-based Perrigo. Guth’s appointment now completes that transition. 

“Sebastian Guth is a seasoned leader who has successfully guided the North America Pharmaceuticals business to growth, with a focus on strategy and innovation that has benefitted countless patients and helped strengthen Bayer,” Wolfgang Nickl, chief financial officer and a member of Bayer’s management board, said in a statement. 

Guth, who has been with the company for 17 years, will retain leadership of the pharmaceuticals business for the U.S. and Canada but will shift oversight of the Latin America business to Heike Prinz, head of commercial operations for the EMEA Pharmaceuticals business. 

Bayer called the U.S. pharmaceuticals business “a critical growth market for the company.” 

Guth, who said he’s “excited about our future,” is credited with the turnaround of the U.S. pharmaceuticals business as president of Pharmaceuticals Americas, “reigniting the company’s growth momentum and expanding its commercial footprint,” Bayer said. 

Prior to his current role, Guth served as executive vice president and chief marketing officer for Bayer’s global pharmaceuticals business. He also has served as president and CEO of Bayer Yakuhin Ltd., Osaka, leading the company’s health care business in Japan. He started his pharmaceutical industry career in 2001 overseas with Schering AG, which Bayer acquired in 2006. 

Working to “foster an inclusive, vibrant, and entrepreneurial culture,” as he said in his promotion announcement, Guth is Bayer’s executive sponsor for GROW, the company’s business resource group focused on advocating for women’s advancement. He also serves on boards across the industry, including the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. 

According to his LinkedIn profile, Guth received his MBA equivalent from WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management; an MBA from the University of Michigan Stephen M. Ross School of Business; an MBA from the Université libre de Bruxelles; and a Ph.D. equivalent from Technische Universität Berlin.