Bayer

One of the world's largest life sciences companies and a top-tier global advertiser with a portfolio of iconic consumer health brands

Bayer AG is a German multinational corporation founded in 1863, headquartered in Leverkusen, Germany. The company operates across three core divisions: Pharmaceuticals (prescription medicines including oncology and cardiovascular drugs), Consumer Health (over-the-counter brands such as Aspirin, Aleve, Claritin, Coppertone, and Dr. Scholl's), and Crop Science (agrochemicals and seeds, significantly expanded through the 2018 acquisition of Monsanto for approximately $63 billion). Bayer is one of the world's largest companies by revenue, consistently ranking among the top global enterprises in the life sciences sector. As a major consumer health company, Bayer is a significant advertiser and marketer, investing heavily in brand-building campaigns across television, digital, social media, and out-of-home channels for its portfolio of household consumer brands. The company works with major advertising agencies and media buyers to reach consumers globally, making it a major client within the advertising and media ecosystem. Its Consumer Health division in particular drives substantial marketing spend to maintain brand awareness and market share for products like Aspirin and Claritin. Bayer's acquisition of Monsanto reshaped its scale and strategic focus but also brought significant legal and reputational challenges, particularly around glyphosate litigation. Despite these headwinds, Bayer remains a Fortune Global 500 company with revenues exceeding €40 billion annually and a workforce of approximately 100,000 employees worldwide. The company is publicly traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange and is a component of the DAX index.