Matthias Berninger was born in Kassel, Germany where he studied chemistry and political science from 1990 to 1994.
Between 1994 and 2007, Matthias was elected four times as Member of the German Federal Parliament representing the Green Party of his home state Hessen focusing on agricultural reform in Germany and Europe including trade policy, food safety and renewable energy.
Matthias was appointed Vice Minister for the Federal Ministry of Consumer Protection, Nutrition and Agriculture from 2001 to 2005 and led the Green Party in Hessen, Germany from 2004 to 2007, running political campaigns on elections at federal and state levels.
Retiring from his Federal Parliament seat in 2007, Matthias joined Mars in Europe to build a public affairs team and globally facilitate the development of Mars Health and Nutrition Strategy. In 2008, as Global Head of Public Policy for Mars Incorporated, Matthias led a global team to develop a cocoa sustainability strategy for the corporation.
By 2011, Matthias led the global public affairs organisation and was instrumental in developing Mars sustainability strategy including leadership on climate change, and establishing sustainability KPIs for Mars leadership circle.
Matthias joined Bayer in January 2019 as SVP, Public Affairs, Science & Sustainability. In his role, he has strengthened Bayer's global public affairs practice and leads the development of a coherent global sustainability strategy published in December 2019. Since 2020, an independent external Sustainability Council is in force and advises the Bayer Board of Management on the consistent implementation of the company's sustainability goals.
He lives with his wife and children in Washington, D.C., holding dual U.S. and German citizenships.
