WHIPPANY, N.J.– Bayer, one of the country’s leading life-sciences companies, announced today that William (Bill) Dodero, its current Vice President and Global Head of Litigation, will become the company’s new U.S. General Counsel and Senior Vice President, as well as a member of the U.S. Country Leadership Team. Dodero succeeds Scott Partridge who decided to depart Bayer at the end of the year after 16 years at Monsanto and Bayer to focus on dispute resolution representation and advocacy. Dodero will begin his new role on January 1, 2023.
Patrick Lockwood-Taylor, President of Bayer U.S., said: “We are excited to have Bill step up to the U.S. General Counsel role and look forward to having his vision, leadership and experience help guide the company’s work to achieve its vision of ‘Health for All. Hunger for None.’ Bill is a special talent who is deeply respected within Bayer, has extensive knowledge of all of our businesses and is an accomplished legal strategist and practitioner. We are also deeply indebted to Scott for his longstanding leadership, thank him for his extensive service and wish him the very best in his new pursuits.”
In his new role in the U.S. organization, Dodero will oversee six functional areas of law covering compliance, corporate law, litigation, safety and environmental law, employment and labor law, and international trade services.
“I’m excited to become part of the U.S. Country leadership team and work with all of my colleagues in law, patents and compliance as we build upon Scott’s leadership and successful track record,” said Dodero. “There are no more important issues in the U.S. today than food security and health care, and I look forward to helping strengthen Bayer’s leadership in these vital areas at a time when the population is growing and aging, and the need for our products and innovation is greater than ever before.”
Dodero has been with Bayer for 20 years and previously served for five additional years as national trial counsel for the company while in private practice. Dodero has been instrumental in shaping the strategy for the Roundup litigation in which the company has racked up five consecutive wins after three early losses (one of these, Johnson, occurred before Bayer acquired Monsanto). Previously, Dodero was the global legal head for Bayer’s Consumer Health Business, and before that he served as Senior Counsel in the company’s Pharmaceutical Business and Litigation Group.
Scott Partridge said: “I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to have worked at Bayer, tackling the many legal challenges that come with an innovative company at the forefront of breakthroughs in food and medicine. Having worked closely with Bill for the last four years, during which he has consistently demonstrated his strong legal skills, I know that he will do an excellent job as the U.S. General Counsel.”
Kenneth Feinberg, who has served as the court-appointed Special Master to mediate the Roundup litigation and has worked closely with Bill and Scott stated: “Bayer has been very well represented by Bill and Scott in the Roundup settlement process. Bill has earned the deep and broad respect of all parties in this litigation and I’m confident that he will provide the company with effective leadership and strong representation in his new role.”
