Dr. Klaus Eckstein, Senior Bayer Representative (SBR) South East Africa and Crop Science EMEA Cluster Division Head Africa, will retire from Bayer after 25 years of service. He will remain with the company as SBR until November 30th, 2023. Prior to this he will hand over the CS EMEA Cluster Lead role in Africa to his successor, Debra Mallowah, as of September 1st, 2023.
Klaus joined Bayer in 1998 in Germany as Product Manager Regulatory Affairs Fungicides/Herbicides. In 2001, he moved to Global Portfolio Management Fungicides and headed the Global Grape Fungicide Crop Strategy. He then moved to South Africa in 2006 as Marketing Manager Southern Africa and was promoted as Country Division Head (CDH) Southern Africa in 2009. In 2013, he took over the additional role of SBR Southern Africa. From 2019 Klaus took over the Crop Science EMEA Cluster Lead Africa role as well as the SBR South East Africa role.
“Throughout his career, Klaus has been a strong advocate for the African continent, for a strategy and business growth strategy, for our commercial and smallholder farming and a developer of talents within the organization. We thank Klaus for his important contributions and wish him every success for the future,” says Jens Hartmann, Head of Region for Crop Science EMEA.
Klaus’ successor as Senior Bayer Representative Bayer of South-East Africa will be announced at a later stage after a selection process.
NEW CROP SCIENCE LEAD FOR AFRICA
Debra Mallowah, will join Bayer as Cluster Division Head & Cluster Lead CS Africa as of September 1st, 2023.
Debra joins Bayer from Coca-Cola where she has been Vice President for East & Central Africa Operations. She has extensive experience gained in leading global multi-national companies with a strong footprint in Africa. Debra served in various leadership positions including Vice President at Unilever based out of South Africa with responsibility for Sub-Sahara Africa; Group Marketing & Innovations Director at Diageo East Africa (East African Breweries Limited); Chief Business Development Officer at Safaricom (Vodafone Group) and General Manager East & West Africa at GlaxoSmithKline.
Debra has a strong passion for the continent and impact generating businesses. She has lived and worked in Kenya, South Africa and United Kingdom.
“I am excited to join the Bayer Crop Science community and the agricultural business sector. I look forward to the opportunity where, together, we will cultivate a brighter future, empowering smallholder, and commercial farmers across the continent, transforming lives and sowing seeds of positive change.”
Debra will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Africa is a continent of potential and amazing people,” says Klaus. “The impact Bayer has on improving the lives and livelihoods of both smallholder and commercial farmers across the continent is part of our vision of Health for All, Hunger for None. I am thankful for what we have achieved as a team so far and I am confident that Debra will enjoy the same support and teamwork.
“The next steps in my life at the end of the year is the beginning of a new cycle for me and my family, but until then I will continue to work with the team and Debra to ensure a smooth transition and continuity in the business.”