BayWa AG, facing financial challenges (inside.beer, 23.07.2024), has announced significant changes to its Board of Management as part of a broader restructuring effort. Michael Baur, who was recently appointed Chief Restructuring Officer (CRO) and Chief Representative, will now join the operational management board. This appointment marks a critical step in the company’s ongoing stabilization and transformation process. Baur, known for his expertise in restructuring, will continue to hold his position as Managing Director and Global Vice Chair at the consultancy firm AlixPartners.
With Baur stepping into a leadership role, current CEO Marcus Pöllinger will exit the company by 31 October 2024. The decision, made in mutual agreement with the Supervisory Board, follows months of intense collaboration between Pöllinger and Baur on the initial stages of BayWa’s restructuring plan.
Andreas Helber, the Chief Financial Officer, is also set to depart by 31 March 2025, after finalizing the financial statements for the 2024 fiscal year. Both executives’ departures are framed as part of a broader strategic realignment, with the Supervisory Board praising their contributions during a turbulent period.
The restructured management will be led by Baur alongside Dr. Marlen Wienert (Corporate Marketing, Agri Trade & Service, Energy, Agricultural Equipment), Reinhard Wolf (CEO and General Director of Raiffeisen Ware Austria), and Helber until his departure. Baur's leadership is expected to be pivotal in executing the recently agreed €500 million financing deal with BayWa's key creditors, with a clear focus on completing the restructuring by 2027.
Gregor Scheller, Chairman of the Supervisory Board, expressed confidence in Baur’s ability to steer BayWa through this critical phase, noting the importance of regaining trust in the company. He added that the board is already searching for long-term successors to fill the upcoming vacancies in the management team.
BayWa is closely connected to the brewing industry through its malting barley trading company, Grainli, and its hop trading division.
