Bayer Korea said it has appointed Lee Jin-a, the current CEO of Bayer Thailand, as its new CEO of Bayer Group in Korea in charge of its pharmaceutical, consumer health, and crop science divisions, effective from Nov. 1.

Lee will become the first Korean CEO in Bayer Group’s Korean offshoot history.

According to the company, Lee is a global leader with 30 years of extensive experience in the pharmaceutical industry across Asian and European markets.

Before joining Bayer, she accumulated expertise within the pharmaceutical industry through executive positions in marketing and strategic planning at Roche Korea and Merck Serono Korea and European and Asia-Pacific offices.

She joined Bayer in 2013 as the Business Unit Director of Heart Health in Korea, playing a key role in expanding its footprint in the anticoagulant market and bringing about the growth of Xarelto.

“I am very pleased to rejoin Bayer Korea,” Lee said. “Placing patients and customers at the forefront, I will do my utmost to swiftly provide Bayer’s pharmaceuticals, enabling them to lead healthier and happier lives.”

Lee earned a Bachelor of Pharmacy from Duksung Women’s University and a Master of Business Administration from Korea University Graduate School. She also completed a leadership program at London Business School.