Bayer AG has named Dr. Judith Hartmann as its next Chief Financial Officer (CFO). She will join the Board of Management on March 1, 2026, and become CFO on June 1, 2026, after Wolfgang Nickl retires at the end of May.
Dr. Hartmann, a highly respected financial and strategic leader, currently serves as an Operating Partner at Sandbrook Capital, a global investment firm focused on climate infrastructure. Her professional journey includes senior leadership roles at some of the world’s top companies, including ENGIE, Bertelsmann, and General Electric (GE).
“With Judith Hartmann, Bayer is gaining a highly accomplished leader with vast international experience,” said Professor Dr. Norbert Winkeljohann, Chairman of Bayer’s Supervisory Board. “She brings strategic insight, operational expertise, and transformational leadership. We are confident she will make a significant contribution to Bayer’s future.”
He also thanked outgoing CFO Wolfgang Nickl, who served for seven years and helped simplify Bayer’s structure and improve efficiency.
Dr. Hartmann earned a Ph.D. in Economics and a Master’s in Business Administration from the Vienna University of Economics and Business. She started her career at The Walt Disney Company in Paris, then spent more than ten years at GE in finance and operations roles in the U.S., Europe, and Brazil. She later became Group CFO at Bertelsmann and then Deputy CEO and Group CFO at ENGIE, where she also served as interim Co-CEO.
Alongside her executive roles, Dr. Hartmann has served on the boards of major global companies such as Unilever, Marsh McLennan, and Ørsted. She has also been a Non-Executive Director for Suez, RTL Group, Electrabel, and Penguin Random House.
Outside of work, Dr. Hartmann enjoys mountaineering and skiing. She is also passionate about the arts, especially painting and supporting new artists.
Dr. Hartmann’s experience in finance, sustainability, and international business supports Bayer’s mission to advance health care and nutrition, following its global vision: “Health for all, Hunger for none.”
