Herbert Grünewald
 Herbert Grünewald    (chemist, businessman) | |
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| Born | 12 September 1921 Weinheim |
| Died | 14 July 2002 (Age 80) |
| Nationality | Germany |
| Alma mater | University of Heidelberg |
Attended the 1980 Bilderberg as Chairman of the Board of German pharma company Bayer, expanded heavily to North America. | |
Dr. Herbert Grünewald was Management Board Chairman of the pharmaceutical company Bayer from 1974 to 1984[1] and did much to promote the globalization of the company during this period.
Early life
Grünewald was born on September 12, 1921 in Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, the son of a businessman. In 1940 he began a university course of study in chemistry in Frankfurt. He was forced to interrupt his education, however, first serving in the German military and then spending time as a prisoner of war before resuming his studies in 1949. In 1956 he received the Dr. rer. nat. title from the University of Heidelberg.
Career
In the same year, 1956, he joined the Intermediates Department (i.e. semi-finished products) of Farbenfabriken Bayer AG as a chemist. After performing various duties in Intermediates Production, he was named to the departmental management team in 1960 before becoming head of the department in 1965.[2]
In 1968, Dr. Grünewald was appointed to the company's Board of Management, at the same time assuming responsibility for Human Resources and Social Affairs. In 1974 — during the first oil crisis — he succeeded Kurt Hansen as Chairman of the Board of Management. Grünewald succeeded in further expanding the company's global presence, making business more independent of regional crises and fluctuations in the economy. During his tenure, sales in international markets grew steadily. In North America in particular, Grünewald laid the foundation for the company's strong position, in part through the strategic acquisition of established pharmaceutical companies.
Event Participated in
| Event | Start | End | Location(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bilderberg/1980 | 18 April 1980 | 20 April 1980 | Germany Aachen | The 28th Bilderberg, held in West Germany, unusually exposed by the Daily Mirror |
