Firmenich appointed Sarah Reisinger as chief research officer, effective July 1, 2021. She will report to the Group CEO, Gilbert Ghostine, as a member of his executive team after most recently serving as senior vice president of research operations. Dr. Reisinger will succeed Professor Geneviève Berger, who is staying on as a strategic advisor to the CEO, before her retirement from the Group on December 31, 2021.
In her new role, Dr. Reisinger will lead Firmenich through new frontiers of scientific excellence, building on the Group’s track record of industry-leading innovation.
Dr. Reisinger has an extensive background in biotechnology as well as a strong track record in ingredients and technology development for the consumer goods industry. Prior to joining Firmenich in 2018 as vp biotechnology and process engineering, she held pivotal roles at Ginkgo Bioworks, Intrexon and Amyris, after starting her career in the field of biology and cancer therapeutics. Dr. Reisinger holds a B.S. in Biology from Harvey Mudd College, US, as well as an M.S. in plant biology and a Ph.D. in microbiology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Firmenich’s industry-leading commitment to research and development is backed by the annual average investment of 10% of its turnover to drive groundbreaking science. The group’s research division runs six centers of excellence in Geneva, Switzerland; New York, Princeton, San Diego, USA; Shanghai, China; and Gujarat, India. It also works closely with a network of external partners, including leading academic institutions and cutting-edge start-ups.
