Bayer's Ray Kerins Wins PRWeek's 2017 Outstanding In-House Professional

Company's U.S. Team Also Named a Finalist as Outstanding In-House Team

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Mar 20, 2017, 12:44 ET

WHIPPANY, N.J., March 20, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Bayer's Raymond F. Kerins, Jr., has won PRWeek's 2017 "Outstanding In-House Professional Award," the communications industry's highest honor for personal achievement.

Ray Kerins, SVP, Head of Communications, Government Relations and Policy

Kerins, who has served as senior vice president and head of communications, government relations and policy for Bayer in the United States since 2013, was honored by PRWeek for his influence, effectiveness and impact. Kerins serves as chairman of the company's political action committee, BAYPAC, and is executive sponsor for two Bayer employee resource groups: Blend, the global resource for Bayer's LGBT employees and supporters, and Bayer Resources for Armed Forces Veteran Employees (BRAVE). Under his leadership, both groups have grown in size and community outreach activities.

In addition, PRWeek cited Kerins' leadership by appearing on CNBC in opposition to the so-called anti-LGBT law in North Carolina, which would have sanctioned discrimination against LGBT people and prohibited transgender people from using bathrooms of their choice. Kerins stood out on the issue by advocating for dialogue, equality and tolerance. For several years, Kerins has served on the CDC corporate roundtable on global health threats, which brings together the public health organization with the private sector to build programs that make the world healthy and safe. Thanks to Kerins' longstanding relationship with the CDC, Bayer led corporate efforts against the Zika virus.

"Ray is an excellent leader who has demonstrated a strategic and innovative approach to comms," according to one PRWeek judge.

PRWeek, which hosted the annual awards dinner last week in New York City, honors and celebrates the best of the corporate, agency, nonprofit and education teams and the work that they do. The outstanding in-house professional award honors the personal achievement within the client side of the PR industry, which is covered by this year's awards, along with any additional career achievements to date.

"I am grateful to receive this award on behalf of the outstanding Bayer team in the United States. Nobody ever accomplished anything in this world alone," Kerins said. "PRWeek is the gold standard of the industry, and to be recognized by your peers in this extraordinary industry is truly special and humbling. I thank PRWeek for this honor."

A graduate of Iona College, where he earned bachelor's and master's degrees, Kerins has long been recognized for outstanding work during his communications career. Just last fall, he was named to PRWeek's Health Influencer 50 List. Kerins lives in Katonah, N.Y., with his wife and three children.

Bayer: Science For A Better Life

Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the Life Science fields of health care and agriculture. Its products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. At the same time, the Group aims to create value through innovation, growth and high earning power. Bayer is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its social and ethical responsibilities as a corporate citizen. In fiscal 2016, the Group employed around 115,200 people and had sales of EUR 46.8 billion. Capital expenditures amounted to EUR 2.6 billion, R&D expenses to EUR 4.7 billion. These figures include those for the high-tech polymers business, which was floated on the stock market as an independent company named Covestro on October 6, 2015. For more information, go to www.bayer.us.

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This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.

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