Bayer Corporation Names Steven Immergut to Vice President, Head of Pharmaceutical Communications

WHIPPANY, N.J., Jan. 7, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer Corporation today announced the appointment of Steven Immergut to a newly created senior position leading communications for the company's pharmaceutical business in the United States.

Immergut spent the last three years in senior roles at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), most recently as Acting Associate Commissioner for External Affairs.  In his new role as Vice President and Head of Communications, Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Immergut will be responsible for developing and executing external and internal communication strategies for Bayer's pharmaceutical portfolio in the United States.  He will be based in Washington, D.C., with regular travel to Whippany, N.J.  

Immergut will report directly to Raymond F. Kerins, Jr., Senior Vice President and Head of Communications, Government Relations and Policy for Bayer Corporation, and will serve on the U.S. Communications, Government Relations and Policy Leadership Team.

"I am delighted to have Steven join the Bayer team as we continue to raise Bayer's profile in the United States and advance our goal of  'Science For A Better Life,' " Kerins said.  "Steven's unparalleled healthcare communications experience, together with his knowledge of the regulatory environment and public health expertise, will be tremendous assets to Bayer.  I look forward to working with him closely as we advance communications about our pharmaceutical products to key audiences here in the United States, Bayer's largest and fastest growing market."

Throughout his extensive career, Immergut has designed, managed and executed strategic communications initiatives on behalf of organizations across the healthcare sector, including the federal government, biopharmaceutical and medical device companies, associations, healthcare providers and patient groups.

Immergut joins Bayer after serving as Acting Associate Commissioner for External Affairs at the FDA, where he directed communications and media on a wide range of regulatory and educational activities and issues, enhanced stakeholder relationships, and helped FDA continue to transform its website and blog into meaningful channels of communication.  For two years he served as Assistant Commissioner for Media Affairs, leading the agency's interactions with the news media.  Immediately prior to his FDA service, Immergut managed government and private sector health communications activities for the management consulting firm Booz Allen Hamilton.  He previously directed the Washington, D.C. healthcare practice of Hill+Knowlton Strategies, a global public relations company, and for more than a decade provided communications counsel to blue chip pharmaceutical and medical device companies.  Earlier in his career, Immergut consulted for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Latin America, where he worked on groundbreaking public health social marketing programs in HIV/AIDS, reproductive health and diarrheal diseases.  Immergut received his Master of Public Health from George Washington University and his B.S. degree in Marketing Management from Syracuse University. 

"I am honored to join the talented team at Bayer to lead communications for its exciting pharmaceutical portfolio in the United States at such a critical time of growth for the company," Immergut said.  "A strong commitment to quality science as the foundation for innovation and getting treatments to patients who need them will help further set Bayer apart as it continues to advance in life sciences."

About Bayer Corporation
Bayer Corporation is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, a global enterprise with core competencies in the fields of health care, agriculture and high-tech materials.  As an inventor company, Bayer sets trends in research-intensive areas.  Bayer products and services are designed to benefit people and improve the quality of life.  At the same time, Bayer aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power.  Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and acts as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen.  In fiscal 2013, Bayer employed 113,200 people at year-end and had sales of €40.2 billion.  In North America, Bayer had 2013 net sales of €9,680 million ($12,874 million) and employed 15,200 at year-end.  For more information, go to www.bayer.us.

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Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports, which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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SOURCE Bayer Corporation