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Bayer Crop Science Europe Middle East Africa (EMEA) has announced important changes in its leadership team and in the South East Africa region following the retirement notice of one of its senior leaders.
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 30 November 2023. Prior to this, he will hand over the Crop Science EMEA cluster lead role in Africa to his successor, Debra Mallowah, as of 1 September 2023.
Dr Eckstein joined Bayer in 1998 in Germany as product manager of 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 in Southern Africa and was promoted to country division head of Southern Africa in 2009. In 2013, he took over the additional role of SBR Southern Africa. In 2019, Dr Eckstein took over the Crop Science EMEA cluster lead Africa role as well as the SBR South East Africa role.
“Throughout his career, Dr Eckstein 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 organisation. We thank him for his important contributions and wish him every success in the future,” says Jens Hartmann, head of region for Crop Science EMEA.
His successor as SBR of South East Africa will be announced at a later stage after a selection process.
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Debra Mallowah, will join Bayer as cluster division head and cluster lead of Bayer Crop Science Africa as of 1 September 2023.
Mallowah joins Bayer from Coca-Cola where she was vice president for East and Central Africa operations. She has extensive experience in leading global multinational companies with a strong footprint in Africa. Mallowah served in various leadership positions including vice president at Unilever based in South Africa with the responsibility for Sub-Saharan Africa; group marketing and innovations director at Diageo East Africa (East African Breweries Limited); chief business development officer at Safaricom (Vodafone Group) and general manager East and West Africa at GlaxoSmithKline.
She has a strong passion for the continent and impact-generating businesses. She has lived and worked in Kenya, South Africa and the United Kingdom. “I am excited to join the Bayer Crop Science community and the agricultural business sector. I look forward to the opportunity where we will cultivate a brighter future together, empowering smallholder and commercial producers across the continent, transforming lives and sowing seeds of positive change.” Mallowah will be based in Nairobi, Kenya.
“Africa is a continent of potential and amazing people,” says Dr Eckstein. “The impact Bayer has on improving the lives and livelihoods of both smallholder and commercial producers 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 Mallowah will enjoy the same support and teamwork. The next step 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 Mallowah to ensure a smooth transition and continuity in the business.” – Press release, Bayer Crop Science Africa
