05.07.14
Beiersdorf AG is getting a new leader for its R&D team. On Oct. 1, the head of Beiersdorf Skin Research, Prof. Klaus-Peter Wittern, will retire. His successor will be Dr. May Shana’a.
Professor Wittern has been at Beiersdorf since 1977 and has led R&D since 1998. His name is connected to numerous product innovations in the field of skin care. These include among others the use of the skin’s own Q10 as an ingredient in skin care products as well as the development of NIVEA Black & White deodorant, the most successful new product in more than 130 years of company history.
Dr. Shana’a has more than 26 years of expertise in the management of global R&D organizations of multinational companies. For 20 years she worked in skin care and cosmetics. Most recently she led the global R&D organization of Ashland Specialty Ingredients (ASI), located in Bridgewater, NJ. Before that the Lebanese-born Shana’a assumed international leadership positions in the research departments of Johnson & Johnson and at Unilever in the company locations in Italy, the US and in the UK.
“We are very happy that we could win over Dr. Shana’a to Beiersdorf. With her vast wealth of experience in global R&D management she will advance product innovations and give further stimulus to the regional focus already started in our Research & Development,” said board member Ralph Gusko.
Dr. Shana’a spoke at HAPPI’s first annual Anti-Aging Conference and Tabletop Exhibition in 2012. (Learn more about this year’s conference by clicking here.)
Professor Wittern has been at Beiersdorf since 1977 and has led R&D since 1998. His name is connected to numerous product innovations in the field of skin care. These include among others the use of the skin’s own Q10 as an ingredient in skin care products as well as the development of NIVEA Black & White deodorant, the most successful new product in more than 130 years of company history.
Dr. Shana’a has more than 26 years of expertise in the management of global R&D organizations of multinational companies. For 20 years she worked in skin care and cosmetics. Most recently she led the global R&D organization of Ashland Specialty Ingredients (ASI), located in Bridgewater, NJ. Before that the Lebanese-born Shana’a assumed international leadership positions in the research departments of Johnson & Johnson and at Unilever in the company locations in Italy, the US and in the UK.
“We are very happy that we could win over Dr. Shana’a to Beiersdorf. With her vast wealth of experience in global R&D management she will advance product innovations and give further stimulus to the regional focus already started in our Research & Development,” said board member Ralph Gusko.
Dr. Shana’a spoke at HAPPI’s first annual Anti-Aging Conference and Tabletop Exhibition in 2012. (Learn more about this year’s conference by clicking here.)