What is Nestlé Health Science, and what is your journey to becoming CEO of this sector of the company?
Nestlé Health Science is dedicated to empowering healthier lives through nutrition. We operate across the healthcare continuum to address nutritional gaps from daily supplementation to more advanced pharmaceutical and medical nutrition treatments. Our goal is to provide science-backed, efficacious products that meet the expanding needs of both patients and consumers. As the healthcare landscape evolves, we leverage insights from all sectors to develop valuable, innovative solutions.
I have been with Nestlé Health Science since its inception and have worked with Nestlé for nearly 20 years in a variety of roles across different markets, including Europe, Oceania, and North America. I stepped into the CEO role in October 2023. My path to this position was built through a combination of vertical and horizontal career moves, allowing me to gain experience across medical industries, direct-to-consumer channels, and e-commerce.
This diverse background has given me a well-rounded perspective to lead Nestlé Health Science in an ever-transforming market. My entrepreneurial approach, passion for people, and improving outcomes is a perfect fit with the direction of the industry and what Nestlé Health Science can provide.
You mentioned that we are in a wellness revolution. How is Nestlé Health Science leveraging these trends?
We are witnessing a dynamic shift where wellness, nutrition, and science are converging at an unprecedented pace, partly driven by increased connection, blurred channel lines, and even social media. Consumers are more educated and empowered than ever, demanding greater efficacy, transparency, and credibility in wellness products. Additionally, traditional retail and institutional healthcare channels have started to overlap, with e-commerce becoming a common denominator across the continuum of health from prevention to treatment.
Our strategy focuses on staying hyper-connected with patients, consumers, and our customer partners to anticipate their varied needs. By leveraging the insights, scope, and scale of our brands’ footprint, we deliver differentiated, value-added solutions. Agility is key, and we pride ourselves on quickly transforming insights into actionable innovations while maintaining credibility and compliance.
We engage meaningfully with consumers in an evolving wellness landscape. We put ourselves in our patients', consumers', and customers' shoes so that we can anticipate, be on the forefront of trends, and unlock value that makes a difference in people’s lives.
There are vastly opposing views on the health science industry. Some argue it lacks scientific rigor, while others see it as a critical solution to structural health issues. Where does Nestlé Health Science position itself?
Nestlé Health Science stands firmly on the side of scientific rigor and integrity. While consumer demand and industry trends move at record speed, we consistently prioritize care, compliance, and ingredient integrity. We pride ourselves on being on the forefront of emerging opportunities and assuring our products deliver on their promises through validated science.
Our focus is on providing strategic, science-backed solutions that address unmet patient and consumer needs. We invest in studies and research to ensure efficacy, safety and satisfaction. The healthcare landscape presents numerous challenges and opportunities, from chronic disease to nutritional deficiencies, to optimal wellness—and our mission is to bridge those gaps responsibly. Meeting people where they are on their health journey and helping them get where they want to go is core to our work. We view this era as an exciting opportunity to advance health and wellness breakthroughs through nutrition-based solutions.
Weight management is one of the biggest global health challenges. How is Nestlé Health Science addressing this issue, particularly through GLP-1 nutrition support?
Weight management is a complex issue requiring a holistic approach rather than a single solution. Our strategy is rooted in understanding the full patient journey, from emotional barriers to physical needs. Many individuals struggling with weight have spent years searching for solutions and have been unsuccessful for a variety of reasons. The introduction of GLP-1 therapies is transformative for many; and these treatments can come with challenges, including loss of lean muscle mass, gut discomfort, dehydration, and weakening skin elasticity. We avoid assuming there is a one-size-fits-all solution or a linear path, especially when co-morbidities are involved.
Our role is not to compete with these important therapies but to complement them. For example, protein intake is crucial to maintaining lean muscle mass during weight loss, and proper hydration and nutritional support can help mitigate side effects. We design solutions tailored to these needs, which can help individuals maintain weight loss in a healthy and sustainable manner. Our approach prioritizes long-term well-being and the role nutrition plays.
Your leadership philosophy seems deeply connected to being in touch with industry trends and the consumer journey. How does this inform your approach to innovation?
I strongly believe that to lead effectively CEOs must also be part cultural anthropologists—constantly observing, engaging, and understanding the industry and consumer behavior. It's not just about the what, but more importantly, the why behind it.
This means staying ahead of trends, listening to patient and consumer needs, and ensuring our solutions address real challenges.
History is a great teacher even in modern times, reminding us that agility and adaptability are crucial for navigating the ever-changing landscape of our industry.
To assure we remain agile and connecting data with daily life, our leadership team actively participates in the consumer experiences—for example living as a diabetic for a day or understanding the complexity of post-partem care and side-effects --making certain we create products that are not only effective but also practical and aligned with real-world wants and needs.
Diversity and inclusion are crucial topics in corporate leadership. As a female CEO, how do you see this integrated into Nestlé's mission?
Putting people first is foundational to how we operate at Nestlé Health Science. We have structured policies in place such as parental leave programs and leadership initiatives, and our practices reflect our commitment to an inclusive workforce founded in respect for all individuals. Beyond policy, prioritizing people is personal to me as a leader.
As a CEO, a mother of three young children, and a caregiver to aging parents, I have firsthand experience navigating different life stages, which directly informs and inspires how I approach our mission. It’s business, but the impact we make is personal because we are in the business of care. Nestlé Health Science serves people from all ages and life stages, and my experiences allow me to deeply understand the importance of nutrition at each developmental stage. Whether it’s the role of supplementation in childhood development or the nutritional needs of aging individuals, we aim to provide personalized, accessible solutions that improve quality of life.
Where do you see the biggest opportunities for growth and innovation in health science?
One of the most significant opportunities lies in closing the gap between lifespan and health span. People are living longer, but that doesn’t always mean they are living healthier. Our goal is to have longevity accompany good quality of life, addressing issues such as chronic disease, mobility, and overall well-being – including energy and zest for life.
Other key areas of focus include weight management support, women’s health, and unlocking growth potential in existing and emerging categories and ingredients. For example, protein is a halo macro nutrient, with multiple types and applications across need states. I don’t think we have unlocked protein’s full potential, yet. As consumer awareness and expectations increase, we are committed to providing solutions that are both scientifically advanced and practical for everyday use. Innovation will continue to drive our efforts in thought leadership, strategic partnerships and new product development.
At Nestle Health Science, our ability to harness the power of our insights, robust pipeline, and an innovative route-to-market allows us to create transformational products. This triple threat is our north star, uniquely positioning us to pioneer leading innovation across the health and wellness market.
You have a distinct leadership style. How has this shaped your approach as CEO?
Aside from always putting people first, my leadership philosophy is built around three core principles: partnership, priorities, and perspective. Partnership means surrounding myself with experts across industries and functions who enable us to think strategically and execute effectively. Prioritization is essential because we are leading a global business, with the U.S. accounting for over 60%. Knowing where to focus our time, efforts and energy assures that we are proactive rather than reactive.
Perspective is the most critical. Every experience, whether positive or challenging, provides an opportunity to learn and connect the dots faster. The speed of change in health science requires leaders to be agile, forward-thinking, and deeply immersed in both data and human insights. I believe in having our feet on the ground and our eyes on the future. In my experience, if you apply this three P recipe, you can learn in dog years. My approach centers on remaining competitive while maintaining a strong ethical foundation, delivering real value to consumers and patients alike. At the end of the day, authenticity is my compass—keeping me focused and leading with values and vision.
