Following a trainee assignment with Deutsche Bank AG, Karsten studied Business Administration, Public Policy and Management in Germany and Spain. He holds a doctor´s degree from the University of Konstanz, Germany.
In 1999, he joined Schering AG, where he started as HR Manager within the international HR department and later moved to Japan to assume responsibility for Organization Systems & Auditing as well as Corporate Communications at Nihon Schering K.K., Japan.
Back in Germany in 2006, Karsten became responsible for a global Organizational Development function and represented HR in the Global Program Management Office during the Bayer-Schering Integration Planning.
He then joined Bayer CropScience AG as global Head of HR Product Supply and later HR Product Supply and Research & Development. During this time he took HR responsibility for major strategic initiatives at Bayer CropScience overall.
In 2013, Karsten became Managing Director of Bayer Direct Services GmbH. In 2014, he was additionally appointed to Head of HR Operations and Member of the Executive Committee of Bayer Business Services.
In 2020, Karsten became SVP HR Solutions at Bayer AG, to integrate HR expert and project capabilities incl. Talent Mgmt., Total Rewards, Change and OD, HR M&A and HR Digital Transformation. As of 2022, he became accountable for HR Transformation & Operations, driving HR-, M&A- and Business Transformation Projects and Operations seamlessly, and delivering effectiveness and experience at scale.
Since March 2023, Karsten is member of the Bayer Group´s Global Business Services (GBS) Leadership Team, driving the new GBS strategy and leading HR Service Delivery Management as well as key strategic projects to increase productivity and business value impact.