10 heads of R&D in beverages
Vice President - R&D International Beverages, Vice President Of Product Development and Director, R&D Product Development are among the current titles held by these heads of R&D in beverages, at beverage, bottled water, brewing and spirits companies. A reader can learn how heads of R&D lead research and product development teams in beverages businesses.
Professionals to explore
Asif Khan
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, R&D · Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.
Asif Khan has been Vice President, R&D at Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. since February 2023, based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Asif Khan was Senior Director, R&D at Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. from 2019 to 2023, Director Quality, North & South America R&D at Mars from 2017 to 2019 and Senior Manager Quality, North America R&D there from 2016 to 2017.
Daniel Pelligra
LinkedInExperience: Director, R&D Product Development · Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.
Daniel Pelligra has been Director, R&D Product Development at Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. since May 2026, based in the New York City Metropolitan Area, and lists skills in beverage development, sensory evaluation and RTD coffee. Daniel Pelligra was Director, Product Development & Innovation at Dyla Brands (acquired by Keurig Dr Pepper) from 2021 to 2026 and Product and Applications Development Technologist, Beverages at Symrise AG from 2014 to 2018.
Jenny Gusba
LinkedInExperience: VP R&D, Global Beverage Strategy & Technical Project Management · PepsiCo
Jenny Gusba has been VP R&D, Global Beverage Strategy & Technical Project Management at PepsiCo since February 2025, based in the New York City Metropolitan Area, and is also listed as Senior Director, Gatorade R&D there since February 2020. Jenny Gusba was Senior Director, Research Development Life Sciences at PepsiCo from 2017 to 2020 and describes a background in sport science.
John Vanker
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Of Product Development · Niagara Bottling
John Vanker has been Vice President Of Product Development at Niagara Bottling since January 2019, based in Ontario, California, with a profile headline of Vice President Of Research, Development, & Innovation at Niagara Bottling. John Vanker was Director Of Product Development at Niagara Bottling from 2015 to 2018 and Director of Engineering Services there from 2012 to 2015.
Milo Li
LinkedInExperience: Director of Product Development, aRTD · The Coca-Cola Company
Milo Li has been Director of Product Development, aRTD at The Coca-Cola Company since November 2024, based in Atlanta, Georgia, and describes experience in the RTD beverage space, launching over 50 new SKUs across 15 product lines. Milo Li was Manager, Productivity & Ingredient Application (Corporate R&D) at The Coca-Cola Company from 2021 to 2024 and Scientist IV (North America OU) there from 2019 to 2021.
Mohamed Badaoui Najjar
LinkedInExperience: Vice President - R&D International Beverages · PepsiCo
Mohamed Badaoui Najjar has been Vice President - R&D International Beverages at PepsiCo since March 2026, based in Purchase, New York. Mohamed Badaoui Najjar was Senior Director – R&D Strategy & Portfolio Management - International Sectors Food & Beverage at PepsiCo from 2020 to 2024 and Director - East Europe Region Head, R&D Beverages Category there from 2016 to 2020.
Samantha Wallgren
LinkedInExperience: VP of R&D and Technical Services - Gehl Food & Beverage · Gehl Food & Beverage
Samantha Wallgren has been VP of R&D and Technical Services at Gehl Food & Beverage since April 2021, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a profile headline that lists food and beverage and private label. Samantha Wallgren was Senior Director, Research and Development at TreeHouse Foods from 2013 to 2021 and QA Manager at STURM FOODS, INC, a Treehouse Foods Company, from 2011 to 2013.
Steve Stradiotto
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, PMO, R&D and Innovation · Molson Coors Beverage Company
Steve Stradiotto is a former Vice President, PMO, R&D and Innovation at Molson Coors Beverage Company, a role held from 2020 to 2023, and has been Vice President, Brewing, Innovation, and Quality there since April 2023, based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Steve Stradiotto was Director, R&D and Innovation at Molson Coors Beverage Company from 2017 to 2020 and Director, Alcoholic Beverage Innovation there from 2014 to 2016.
Swapna Mony
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of R&D and Innovation · Tractor Beverage Co.
Swapna Mony has been Vice President of R&D and Innovation at Tractor Beverage Co. since April 2023, based in Richmond, Virginia, and describes drawing on years of beverage formulations experience. Swapna Mony was Sr. Market Manager - Distribution at Cargill from 2022 to 2023 and Senior Beverage Scientist, Product Development and Applications at ADM from 2019 to 2020.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose own drink category, such as soft drinks, ready-to-drink coffee, bottled water, beer or spirits, sits closest to the decision you face. Check the start and end dates of each role to see how recent the experience is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your current R&D leadership role, and what did you learn from it?
- 02How do you take a new beverage formulation from the bench to full-scale production?
- 03How have you built and developed the R&D team that reports to you?
Reaching heads of R&D in beverages
How can I contact one of these heads of R&D in beverages?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 8 companies, including Keurig Dr Pepper Inc., PepsiCo and Niagara Bottling, based on profile data retrieved on October 24, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach heads of R&D in beverages?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these heads of R&D in beverages a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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