Nestlé Health Science announces new US leadership appointments

Former Meta VP Brian Groves has been announced as the new CMO, responsible for leading the Nestlé Health Science Commercial Excellence team and will serve as a member of its US Leadership Team. Groves starts his new role on September 11, 2023.

"Brian's strategic leadership skills and extensive experience in marketing and brand management make him a highly valuable addition to the Nestlé Health Science team. As our Chief Marketing Officer, he will play a crucial role in accelerating the growth and evolution of our dynamic wellness and nutrition portfolio, empowering patients and consumers to lead healthier lives," said Don Kerrigan, CEO of Nestlé Health Science U.S.

Additionally, Gabriella Viljoen is stepping up as Vice President of eCommerce and will be responsible for developing and managing marketing activities across multiple marketplaces. Viljoen’s leadership appointment is effective September 4, 2023.

Fostering collaboration​

A spokesperson for Nestlé Health Science (NHSc) told NutraIngredients-USA that company has recently introduced an advanced operating model that unifies all its brands under the NHSc umbrella. "This approach aims to foster collaboration, consistency, and innovation while entrusting business, strategic, innovative, and creative decisions to the brand leaders," they explained. "The new operating model strategically aligns each brand within one of three distinct business units: Active and Medical Nutrition; Vitamins, Minerals, and Health Supplements; and Pharmaceutical Therapies. These units are further supported by a centralized functional model, establishing a robust foundation for future endeavors.

"At the heart of this design is the establishment of a Commercial Excellence function tasked with providing comprehensive support and executing strategies for the brand teams. This team, led by the Chief Marketing Officer, oversees Brand Management, Content Creation, Creative Excellence, Research, Insights and Analytics, Customer and Channel Development, and Agency and Partner Development. Through Commercial Excellence, greater collaboration is anticipated across the business, enhancing the effectiveness of marketing and customer/consumer-related initiatives. This approach aims to drive business growth and elevate customer satisfaction, all while adhering to NHSc's core principle of upholding brand authenticity.

"Furthermore, NHSc has solidified the formation of a dedicated eCommerce team responsible for spearheading sales growth on platforms like Amazon and other e-tailers. Given the significant role of this channel in long-term brand development, the eCommerce team assumes a pivotal role in achieving business objectives."

Resumes ​

Prior to joining Nestlé Health Science, Groves served as Vice President for Global CPG Clients and Categories at Meta, formerly known as Facebook, where he was responsible for global revenue, strategic partnership growth, and go-to-market strategy for Meta’s CPG vertical.

Prior to joining Facebook in 2014, Groves served as US CMO for Pfizer Consumer Healthcare and held brand management and leadership roles at Callaway Golf Company and Johnson & Johnson Consumer Healthcare.

Viljoen has been with Nestlé Health Science since joining Garden of Life in 2020, where she held roles of increasing responsibility including Vice President of Amazon Strategy, managing the business performance and advertising strategies.

Prior to Garden of Life, she advanced eCommerce and Amazon strategies across multiple CPG brands across categories including skin care, pet care, and healthy food snacks.