New Head of Research and Development at Beiersdorf

The Head of Beiersdorf Skin Research, Professor Klaus-Peter Wittern, is entering retirement on 1 October, to be replaced by Dr May Shanaa.

Professor Wittern has been at Beiersdorf since 1977 and has led Research and Development in the company since 1998. His name is connected to numerous product innovations in the field of skin care, including the use of the skins own Q10 as an ingredient in skin care products as well as the development of NIVEA Black and White Deodorant, the most successful new product in over 130 years of the company.

Witterns successor, Dr. May Shanaa, has more than 26 years of expertise in the management of global R&D organisations of multinational companies. Most recently she led the global R&D organisation of Ashland Specialty Ingredients (ASI), located in Bridgewater, US. Before that, Lebanese-born Shanaa assumed international leadership positions in the research departments of Johnson & Johnson and at Unilever in Italy, the US and the UK.

"We are very happy that we could win over Dr Shanaa 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," commented Board Member Ralph Gusko, Brands.