In what is being read as yet another sign that US approval of Bayer’s takeover of Monsanto is imminent, the German group has announced a reshuffle of executive positions in its soon-to-be-enlarged CropScience division.

Some managers will transfer from Bayer’s CropScience headquarters in Monheim, Germany, to Monsanto’s US base at St. Louis, Missouri, USA, while others will move in the opposite direction. Still others will stay at their current base.

Bayer said its executive lineup for CropScience will include an array of functions that will have integrated responsibility for the combined business activities of its current agriculture activities and Monsanto’s business following the acquisition’s closing.

Liam Condon, current president of Bayer CropScience, will lead the combined organization, which will be headquartered in Monheim. Monsanto chief executive, Hugh Grant, along with several other top executives of the US agribusiness giant, has announced plans to leave the company.

Brett Begemann, currently Chief Operating Officer at Monsanto, will take up the same function at the merged company. He will continue to be based in St. Louis. Michael Schulz, currently responsible for finance at Bayer CropScience, will become the division’s Chief Financial Officer and head of finance, moving to St. Louis.

Robert Reiter, at present Technology Integration Planning Lead at Monsanto, has been named head of Research & Development at the new company and based in Monheim. Frank Terhorst, currently responsible for Pre-Merger Planning at Bayer’s Crop Science Division will also move to St. Louis, to head Crop Strategy & Portfolio Management. Dirk Backhaus will continue to serve as head of Product Supply and based in Monheim.

Jesus Madraz, now responsible for Global Supply Chain and Commercial Operations at Monsanto in St. Louis, will move to Monheim as head of Agricultural Affairs & Sustainability. The US company’s Chief Information Officer, James Swanson, will become Crop Science Chief Information Officer and Head of IT / Digital Transformation in Monheim. Michael Stern, CEO of Monsanto’s Climate Corporation, will become head of the unit Digital Farming / Climate Corporation and stay at the St. Louis site.

 Gabriele Oehlschlaeger, at present responsible for Talent Management within Bayer’s Human Resources & Organization, has been chosen to head Human Resources and will be based in Monheim. Lars Benecke will head Law, Patents and Compliance, the same position he now holds at Bayer Crop Science, and remain in Monheim. Also based in Monheim, Martin Dawkins will head Post-Merger Integration, the function he currently has at Bayer’s Crop Science Division.  Large parts of the Bayer portfolio as well as the name CropScience reflect the merger of Aventis CropScience into Bayer two decades ago.