Bayer CEO Bill Anderson has publicly criticized what he views as a “massive location disadvantage” for Germany. Speaking to T-Online magazine, he pointed specifically to the exorbitant cost of energy, stating that it is impossible to pretend it is not a problem that Germany’s electricity prices are more than three times higher than on the Texas Gulf Coast and more than double those found in China.
He views this price discrepancy, coupled with high labor side costs and a paralyzing degree of bureaucracy, as major hurdles for the company. Despite the common discussion surrounding these issues, Anderson emphasizes that he sees no alleviation; rather, reporting requirements and regulations continue to increase. Having been in the German market for three years, he asserts that “it simply isn’t getting better”.
When asked if he would offer Friedrich Merz an internship at Bayer, Anderson dismissed the idea, stating that Merz “needs no internship” as he is “very smart and has a lot of experience in politics and business”. He noted having spoken with Merz and numerous members of the current and past government, adding that he was the last person to want to criticize the federal government in general, acknowledging that they are also facing significant challenges.
Anderson then called for a “mission for Germany”. He stated that everyone must operate within their field to the best of their ability, noting that Bayer, in its sectors of health, nutrition, and employment, operates with a clear mission. He insisted that a nation also requires an inspiring mission. He concluded by saying, “The German inventive spirit might be asleep right now. But it is not dead. The job of leadership is to wake it up-not to explain why something isn’t working”.
