René Lammers, Ph.D.
René Lammers, Ph.D.
Executive Vice President & Chief Research & Innovation Officer
René Lammers, Ph.D, is Executive Vice President, Chief Research & Innovation Officer at The Estée Lauder Companies. In this role, he leads global research and innovation, overseeing product and clinical innovation, scientific affairs, regulatory strategy, upstream technologies, and the company’s Research & Innovation Centres worldwide.
René brings nearly 30 years of experience in science-driven innovation, sustainability, safety, and consumer-centric technologies. Most recently, he served as Executive Vice President & Chief Science Officer at PepsiCo, where he led a 3,000-member global R&D function, integrating scientific rigour with consumer insights to deliver breakthrough platforms and sustainable solutions. Prior to that, he held senior leadership roles at Unilever, developing new technologies in personal care, home care, and laundry, while establishing innovation hubs across Europe and Asia.
He holds a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Delft University of Technology and a master’s degree from Leiden University. Dr. Lammers also serves on the Board of the New York Hall of Science and as a Commissioner for the U.S. National Commission on Innovation and Competitiveness Frontiers.
