Bayer's Kerins, Leahy Earn Top Industry Honors

WHIPPANY, N.J., Nov. 2, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Two of Bayer's top U.S. communications and government relations leaders have been recognized by their peers as among the most influential professionals in their respective industries. Raymond F. Kerins, Jr., senior vice president of Communications, Government Relations and Policy for Bayer in the United States, has been named to PRWeek's and Medical Marketing & Media's Health Influencer 50 List. Christopher Leahy, vice president of U.S. Government Relations for Bayer, was named as one of The Hill's Top Corporate Lobbyists. Both honors were announced last week.

Kerins, who has previously received numerous PRWeek accolades, garnered PRWeek's and MM&M's latest honor by taking an "Engage and Educate" approach in all facets of the business. "Engagement of the stakeholder, regardless of who they are, should be your first move [as a communications head]," Kerins told PRWeek. "When we are not engaging, we don't know what stakeholders are thinking." 

"What does it mean to wield influence? Dissatisfaction must often exceed satisfaction in order for change to occur in healthcare," says Marc Iskowitz, editor in chief of MM&M. "Regardless, sometimes influential leaders can get things done by sheer will. That's the common denominator among each person in our Health Influencer 50 list. Each boasts high-profile accomplishments, oftentimes ahead of the pain-of-change curve. And each is emblematic of the new wave of leadership arising out of agencies, biopharma, and health tech."

Kerins currently serves on Bayer's U.S. Country Leadership Team, as well as chairman of Bayer's Political Action Committee, BAYPAC. While his responsibilities include overseeing all communications and government relations functions for Bayer supporting healthcare, agriculture and animal health divisions, Kerins has recently been spearheading Bayer's fight against the Zika virus in partnership with the CDC Foundation. Kerins has long served on the CDC's Advisory Council on Global Health Threats.  

According to The Hill, one of the leading print and online news organizations covering Capitol Hill, the White House and K Street, Leahy has "shown an ability to get things done," and is one of the "movers and shakers who are among The Hill's Top Lobbyists." Leahy earned the recognition for his industry-leading efforts expanding Bayer's lobbying presence in Washington, as well as in grassroots and digital advocacy. Since he joined Bayer in late 2013, Leahy has dramatically changed the culture of Bayer's Government Relations and Policy team in Washington and throughout the United States. Not only has he increased Bayer's proactive approach in dealing with influential Washington insiders, Leahy has also helped demonstrate Bayer's business presence by hosting numerous members of Congress and state officials at Bayer's U.S. manufacturing and R&D sites.

Prior to joining Bayer, Leahy spent years on Capitol Hill in numerous government relations capacities, including roles at Peabody Energy and Volkswagen.

About Bayer Corporation

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2015, the Group employed around 117,000 people and had sales of EUR 46.3 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.3 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to bayer.com.

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