by Mehmood Khan
I’ve been a practicing physician for 27 years specializing in endocrinology, diabetes and nutrition including many years spent at the University of MN and the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, as well as serving as R&D President of a major pharmaceutical company. When the opportunity was presented to become PepsiCo’s first-ever Chief Scientific Officer, I was intrigued.
Upon meeting with Indra Nooyi, PepsiCo chairman and CEO, I knew that combined with the companies strengths and vision I could make a unique contribution to one of the world’s largest food and beverage companies. PepsiCo is a global company truly committed to making a positive impact on the world’s population faced with serious nutrition challenges, including under-nutrition and obesity.
Every day, we act on that commitment through the wide variety of products we offer, the public-private partnerships we lead and engage with and the global health initiatives we actively support. For generations, we’ve been offering some of the world’s favorite foods and beverages. We’ll always offer well-loved brands like Doritos and Pepsi that bring joy and refreshment. Yet as we look to the future, we are increasingly focused on science-based nutrition as well.
We’re changing because our consumers are changing and because the health of the world’s growing population demands it. The global rise in obesity and hunger present a tremendous public health challenge. Our team of renowned scientists as well as experts in clinical science, epidemiology, nutrition, product development, food engineering and technology and public health provide a unique understanding of human physiology and the nutrition needs of diverse populations combined with a world class understanding of how to take the science and translate it into differentiated consumer products.
At PepsiCo, with the expertise and passion of our R&D team matched by our marketing and operational capabilities in the more than 200 countries where we operate, I know we’ll make a positive contribution.
