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Laura S. Harkness
New Hope,PA
Summary
Dynamic and accomplished senior R&D leader with extensive experience in consumer products, healthcare, and academia. Recognized for expertise in product development, biological sciences, strategic innovation, and productivity enhancement. Proven track record of leading high-performing teams while fostering an environment that nurtures the growth of future leaders. Committed to driving impactful solutions that align with organizational goals and elevate industry standards.
Overview
40
40
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vice President, Global R&D
Church & Dwight Co
Ewing, NJ
04.2016 - Current
- Lead product development for global personal care, health & wellbeing, and pharma product portfolio, including regulated and cosmetic products. Portfolios include oral care products (toothpaste brands, denture care, Orajel, Spinbrush, and Therabreath); hair care (Batiste dry shampoo, Viviscal hair treatment, Toppik hair cosmetic); skin care (Hero acne care, Touchland hand sanitizers and body mists, antiperspirants and deodorants, Flawless devices, Nair depilatories and waxes, Lineance, Barbara Gould, and Anne French); health & wellbeing products (Trojan condoms, vibrators, and lubricants, Curash baby products, First Response Test Kits, Replens, RepHresh, Femfresh, and VitaFusion and L’il Critters gummy vitamins); pharma products (Gravol, Rub A535, Zicam, Legatrin, Sterimar and Simply Saline nasal sprays, and Anusol).
- Deliver new products (30+ annually) to achieve 1.8% INS across the portfolio to drive top-line growth.
- Drive clinical research program to deliver ownable product claims and communications.
- Lead high performing teams globally at 6 Centers of Excellence and 6 regional centers in the US Canada, France, UK, Japan, and China.
- Deliver year on year productivity goals (2% net sales) driving gross margin improvements.
- Develop and drive global upstream innovation programs for top-line growth focused on new product innovation for global markets.
- R&D due diligence and integration lead on M&A for all personal care, pharma, and health & wellbeing acquisitions, including Therabreath, Hero, Toppik, Viviscal, Flawless, Anusol, Zicam, Flawless, and WaterPik.
- R&D senior strategy lead for globalizing R&D since 2017 including establishing global centers, innovation programs, resources, and key capabilities.
- Representing CHD on external boards.
Senior Director, Global R&D
PepsiCo
Purchase, NY
04.2010 - 04.2016
- Develop and execute global innovation and product strategies for our global business units, including Global Beverage, Global Snacking, and Global Nutrition.
- Deliver product innovation via research and technologies platforms for 5-year growth plans for global business partners aligned to global R&D long-term pipeline platforms.
- Establish and maintain strong relationships with senior business, R&D, and external stakeholders to drive future innovation and growth leading to competitively advantaged products for our global brands across the food and beverage portfolio.
- Develop global brand and communication guidance for our global brands to ensure clear and consistent product guardrails and communications.
- Deliver internal and external research communication strategies to ensure that PepsiCo has a strong science voice inside and outside the company.
- Lead research and claim substantiation for new and existing products across all sectors, including dossier development for our global brands.
- Manage a high performing team, promote talent, and career development, and create a culture of inclusion, creativity, integrity, and passion.
Director, Global R&D
PepsiCo
03.2011 - 03.2013
- Develop and execute global and regional programs, leveraging nutrition and biological sciences to drive innovative strategies for new and existing science and communication platforms for our global beverage (including juice) businesses.
- Drive innovation and research through identifying and communicating science and technologies for business partners and cross-functional partners.
- Establish and foster strong relationships with key stakeholders including senior leadership, cross-functional partners, and business teams. Continuous focus on relationship management with internal partners to streamline and drive toward common objectives to support the business.
- Partner with internal and external leaders to drive science-based communication for existing products as well as new launches across multiple touch points including internal stakeholders, retail partners, key customers and large accounts, media, key opinion leaders, professional groups, public health communities, and scientific communities.
- Lead claims substantiation and documentation for new and existing products.
- Create an inclusive and engaging environment for talent development and career growth.
Sr. Manager, Global R&D
PepsiCo
04.2010 - 03.2011
- Successfully translate science into actionable products and communication opportunities for the global beverage business.
- Partner with Global Strategy Business team to develop and launch new business unit within the corporation focused on the Nutrition Businesses, resulting in the launching of the Global Nutrition Group organization for Gatorade, Quaker, Tropicana, and PepsiCo dairy businesses.
- Drive global collaboration to develop and publish internal guidance for nutrient addition to products, advertising to children guidelines, product development nutrition criteria, and nutrition claims evidence-based review and document management protocol.
- Develop competitive benchmarking, portfolio mapping, and research/ingredient scoping systems to drive competitive advantage.
Senior Scientist/ Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Manager/ Regulatory Compliance Specialist
Nestlé R&D
Solon, OH
01.2006 - 04.2010
- Development and execution of 10-year nutrition, health, and wellness strategy to support business partners for frozen and refrigerated prepared foods (Stouffers foods, Lean Cuisine foods, Hot Pockets, Toll House cookies, Toll House chips, Buitoni pasta and sauce, and frozen pizza).
- Project manager for nutrition, health, and wellness pipeline projects.
- Research program development and clinical trial management to sustain science and claims initiatives.
- Substantiation and promotion of global Nestlé Nutrition Criteria and Nutrition, Health, and Wellness strategy for food and beverage products.
- Drive innovation through identifying and communicating science and technologies for new product development.
- Establishment of external research partnerships to support research.
- Promotion of Nestlé research to internal and external influencers (American Heart Association, Healthy Weight Coalition, American Society for Nutrition, and American Dietetic Association).
- Development of nutrition claims for labeling.
- Substantiation of claims via scientific substantiation and dossier development.
- Regulatory compliance officer for R&D center.
Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Department of Pediatrics
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OH
09.2002 - 01.2006
- Nutrition and Biological Sciences research for NIH and pharma studies on bone health in adolescents and older adults.
- Teaching responsibilities for graduate-level nutrition science at the School of Medicine and for medical training staff.
- Medical Staff position focused on Medical Nutrition Therapy for pediatric patients, including educational programs.
Dietetic Internship Director Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Family and Consumer Studies
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio
08.2000 - 07.2002
- Led development and implementation of a new graduate Dietetic Internship Program, which resulted in a fully accredited Dietetic Internship/ MS Program for the University.
- Curriculum development for graduate program to meet the American Dietetic Association standards for the Dietetic Internship/ MS program.
- Teaching responsibilities for advanced, clinical, and graduate-level courses.
Dietetic Internship Director/ Clinical Dietitian, Clinical Nutrition Services
MetroHealth Medical Center
Cleveland, Ohio
08.1998 - 08.2000
Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Family and Consumer Studies, Nutrition Faculty Member
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio
01.1990 - 01.1998
Department of Nutrition Services, Critical Care Dietitian
Fairview Hospital
Cleveland, Ohio
01.1989 - 01.1993
Student Services, Food Service Manager
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, Ohio
01.1986 - 01.1988
Education
Ph.D. - Nutrition
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OhioDietetic Internship - undefined
Brentwood Hospital
Warrensville Heights, OhioM.S. - Nutrition
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OhioB.Sc. - Nutrition
Case Western Reserve University
Cleveland, OhioSkills
- Team leadership
- Relationship building
- Decision-making
- Critical thinking
Certification
Registered Dietitian 727255
Interests
Timeline
Vice President, Global R&D
Church & Dwight Co
04.2016 - Current
Director, Global R&D
PepsiCo
03.2011 - 03.2013
Senior Director, Global R&D
PepsiCo
04.2010 - 04.2016
Sr. Manager, Global R&D
PepsiCo
04.2010 - 03.2011
Senior Scientist/ Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Manager/ Regulatory Compliance Specialist
Nestlé R&D
01.2006 - 04.2010
Assistant Professor (Tenure Track), Department of Pediatrics
Case Western Reserve University
09.2002 - 01.2006
Dietetic Internship Director Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Family and Consumer Studies
Kent State University
08.2000 - 07.2002
Dietetic Internship Director/ Clinical Dietitian, Clinical Nutrition Services
MetroHealth Medical Center
08.1998 - 08.2000
Nutrition and Dietetics, School of Family and Consumer Studies, Nutrition Faculty Member
Kent State University
01.1990 - 01.1998
Department of Nutrition Services, Critical Care Dietitian
Fairview Hospital
01.1989 - 01.1993
Student Services, Food Service Manager
Case Western Reserve University
01.1986 - 01.1988
Dietetic Internship - undefined
Brentwood Hospital
M.S. - Nutrition
Case Western Reserve University
B.Sc. - Nutrition
Case Western Reserve University
Ph.D. - Nutrition
Case Western Reserve University