Toronto, Ontario, Canada — September 2026: Bayer has appointed Viktoria Friedrich as President and CEO of Bayer Inc. in Canada, expanding her leadership responsibilities within the global life sciences company. Friedrich brings more than five years of experience at Bayer and has served as Country President & General Manager, Pharma Canada since September 2023.
In her current role, Friedrich has led Bayer’s pharmaceutical business in Canada, overseeing the organization’s activities in the local market. Her appointment to the President and CEO position builds on her experience in Canadian market leadership as well as her previous global responsibilities within Bayer’s pharmaceutical organization.
Leadership Experience at Bayer
Before relocating to Canada, Friedrich served as Vice President, Global Head of Strategy, Portfolio & Innovation at Bayer from January 2021 to September 2023, based in Berlin, Germany.
In this role, she was responsible for global strategy, portfolio development, and innovation, adding an international strategic dimension to her experience in pharmaceutical commercialization and business management.
Her transition to Canada in 2023 marked a shift toward country-level leadership, where she took responsibility for Bayer’s pharmaceutical business and developed deeper experience in local market operations, commercial strategy, and organizational leadership.
More Than Seven Years with Sanofi
Prior to joining Bayer, Friedrich spent more than seven years with Sanofi in Germany, progressing through a series of commercial, marketing, and business leadership positions.
Her roles included Brand Manager, Cardiovascular Lipids; Brand Lead, Cardiovascular Lipids; Head of Marketing Cardiovascular, DACH; Head of GP Portfolio Business; and Franchise Head Special Business & Customer Engagement Lead, DACH.
During her time at Sanofi, Friedrich developed experience across cardiovascular healthcare, brand management, portfolio strategy, marketing, customer engagement, and commercial leadership across the DACH region.
Early Career at Bristol-Myers Squibb
Friedrich began her pharmaceutical career with Bristol-Myers Squibb, where she worked as a Marketing & Sales Trainee in Munich from 2012 to 2013.
Since then, her career has expanded across multiple areas of the pharmaceutical industry, including sales and marketing, brand management, portfolio leadership, strategy, innovation, and country-level business management.
With more than 14 years of pharmaceutical industry experience, Friedrich brings a combination of commercial expertise, global strategy experience, and local market leadership to her new mandate at Bayer Canada.
Expanding Leadership Responsibilities in Canada
Friedrich’s appointment as President and CEO of Bayer Inc. in Canada represents the latest step in her career with the company. Her experience spans both global and country-level responsibilities, giving her exposure to pharmaceutical strategy and innovation as well as the operational requirements of a national organization.
In her expanded role, Friedrich will lead Bayer’s Canadian organization while continuing to build on her experience in the pharmaceutical sector and her understanding of the Canadian healthcare market.
About Bayer
Bayer is a global life sciences company focused on healthcare and nutrition. Through its businesses, the company develops products and services addressing needs in health and nutrition while working to respond to challenges associated with a growing and aging global population.
Bayer applies science and innovation across healthcare and nutrition, with activities spanning areas such as medicines, consumer health, and solutions supporting food and agricultural systems. The company also incorporates sustainability into its broader business strategy.
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