Guru Ramamurthy appointed CFO of Bayer Crop Science division

USA – Bayer has announced the appointment of Guru Ramamurthy as the new Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of its Crop Science division.

Ramamurthy, currently serving as CFO of Bayer US, will step into the new role on July 1, replacing Oliver Rittgen, who is leaving the company after 25 years of service.

Rodrigo Santos, a member of Bayer’s board and president of the Crop Science Division, welcomed the new appointment, saying, “Guru has a strong track record of enabling business turnarounds and driving transformation through a holistic business perspective.”

Santos added, “His ability to shape business strategies to boost profitability and growth to deliver results, while building high-performing finance teams, has made his leadership stand out.”

Ramamurthy will be based in St. Louis. Bayer said it would announce his replacement for the US CFO position at a later date.

Meanwhile, Santos also paid tribute to Rittgen’s long-standing service, saying, “Oliver has successfully been driving business performance and transformation across the divisions and has always made it a priority to develop his organisation and people at the same time.”

He continued, “His innovative and entrepreneurial thinking has helped us to further develop the financial operations of our business. I want to thank him for his valuable contributions and wish him all the best for the future.”

Focus on agriculture and sustainability

Beyond executive changes, Bayer remains committed to its role in the agriculture sector, with continued investment in sustainable farming practices and food security.

The Crop Science division is known for developing advanced crop breeding methods and biotechnology to improve yields and climate resilience.

The company is also working on solutions that reduce the environmental impact of farming. This includes tools for biological pest control, such as Vynyty Citrus, which helps citrus growers manage pests without leaving harmful residues on their fruit.

In a broader context, Bayer is addressing issues of food insecurity, with over 2.3 billion people globally affected by moderate or severe levels of it.

Through its 2024 Impact Report, the company shared steps it is taking to lower greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture, which makes up 34% of human-caused emissions globally.

Support for fresh produce and healthy diets

Bayer also continues to promote fruit and vegetable consumption around the world as part of its mission of “Health for All, Hunger for None.”

The company works with the Sustainability Initiative for Fruits and Vegetables (SIFAV) to help growers adopt more responsible farming practices.

These efforts reflect Bayer’s broader commitment to improving agricultural outcomes and supporting healthier food systems, especially as the company welcomes new leadership at the financial helm of its Crop Science business.

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