Matthias Berninger

As Executive Vice President Public Affairs, Sustainability, and Safety for Bayer globally, Matthias has strengthened Bayer's global public affairs practice and leads the development and implementation of a coherent global sustainability strategy. Also serving as the Human Rights Officer for the Bayer Group, Matthias reports to the CEO and is a member of the Advisory Board of the Hans & Berthold Finkelstein Foundation, and Member of the Board of Trustees for the Bayer Cares Foundation. Matthias was born in Kassel, Germany where he studied chemistry and political science. From 1994 to 2007 he served four terms in the German Federal Parliament as a Green Party representative for Hesse focusing on agricultural reform, trade policy, food safety, and renewable energy. He later served as State Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Food and Agriculture and led the Greens in Hesse, managing federal and state election campaigns. After retiring from the Federal Parliament in 2007, Matthias joined Mars in Europe to build its public affairs function and support the company’s global health and nutrition strategy. As Global Head of Public Policy from 2008, he led the development of Mars’ cocoa sustainability strategy. From 2011, he headed global public affairs and played a central role in shaping Mars’ sustainability strategy, including a leadership role in climate change and establishing KPIs for Mars’ leadership team. Matthias lives with his wife and children in Washington, DC.