Bayer names new consumer health chief

BASEL, Switzerland — Bayer on Friday announced the appointment of Sharon James as head global innovation and development (organization of the Consumer Health Division, effective Oct.  2, 2017.  James succeeds John O'Mullane, who will retire from the company on Dec. 31, 2017 after 30 years in the industry.



"With more than 25 years' experience in the fast-moving consumer goods and consumer product sector, Sharon has a proven record of developing and supporting products for leading consumer brands," stated Erica Mann, member board of management, Bayer, and president, Consumer Health Division, Bayer. "I am excited that Sharon is joining Consumer Health, and know that under her leadership Bayer will continue to successfully develop and deliver new innovative self-care solutions that help people around the world be a little healthier every day."



James joins Bayer from Reckitt Benckiser, where she most recently held the position of SVP head of global research and development, at the company's global headquarters in Slough, U.K. She also previously held various senior roles at PepsiCo and GlaxoSmithKline.



James' product development experience spans health, personal and home care categories where she has delivered transformative and consumer-loved innovation internationally. Known for embedding a "consumer-first" mindset in R&D, James is also a strong advocate of open innovation – collaborating extensively with a broad range of partners across the health industry.



James holds a Ph.D. in Neurobiology from University College London, Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Biochemistry from University of London.



James will report to Mann and will be a member of the Consumer Health Executive Committee. She will be based in Basel, Switzerland.



O'Mullane joined Bayer in 2014 following the acquisition of Merck Consumer Care. Among his accomplishments leading global research and development organizations at Bayer, Merck as well as Schering-Plough and GlaxoSmithKline, was leading successful over-the-counter switches of prescription medicines, creating state-of-the-art consumer testing centers at company facilities and establishing consumer-centric design thinking methodologies across the function. Additionally, at Bayer, O'Mullane led a strategy to sharpen the division's focus and redesign its innovation and development operating model to better deliver bigger, better and faster innovation to consumers.



"Under John's leadership, the division is well-prepared to meet the needs and desires with new products that consumers demand," Mann said. "I would like to thank John for his passion and strong sense of purpose that has helped to put us on a path of even greater success with our innovation efforts."