10 McCormick R&D leaders
Vice President Research And Development, Director of R&D and R&D Director, Brand Aromatics are among the current titles held by these McCormick R&D leaders, who hold consumer, flavor solutions and regional R&D roles at the company. A reader can learn how R&D leaders work at McCormick from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
AuBrei J. Weigand-Heller
LinkedInExperience: Director Product Development - Spices & Extracts, Seasonings · McCormick & Company
AuBrei J. Weigand-Heller has been Director Product Development - Spices & Extracts, Seasonings at McCormick & Company since May 2026, based in Hunt Valley, Maryland. AuBrei J. Weigand-Heller was Principal Scientist - Product Development at McCormick & Company from 2023 to 2026 and Senior Scientist - Product Development there from 2020 to 2023.
Claudio Rattes
LinkedInExperience: Director of R&D · McCormick & Company
Claudio Rattes has been Director of R&D at McCormick & Company since December 2019, based in Baltimore City County, Maryland. Claudio Rattes was R&D Director, Industrial EMEA at McCormick & Company from 2017 to 2019, R&D Director, Consumer EMEA there from 2016 to 2017 and Director of R&D, US CPD from 2013 to 2016.
Emma Lewis
LinkedInExperience: Senior R&D Director Flavour Solutions EMEA · McCormick & Company
Emma Lewis is a former Senior R&D Director Flavour Solutions EMEA at McCormick & Company, a role held from 2024 to 2025, and has been Senior R&I Director UK&I at Danone since September 2025, based in Windsor, England. Emma Lewis was Chief Commercial & Product Officer at Ivy Farm Technologies from 2022 to 2024 and Group R&D Head of Plant Protein at Nomad Foods from 2018 to 2021.
Kaiming Zhu
LinkedInExperience: China R&D Head · McCormick & Company
Kaiming Zhu has been China R&D Head at McCormick & Company since March 2018, based in Beijing. Kaiming Zhu was Global Dove/Galaxy R&D Director at Mars from 2014 to 2018, Technology Director at Mars from 2010 to 2014 and R&D Director there from 2004 to 2010, and was R&D Senior Manager at Procter & Gamble from 1998 to 2004.
Kathy Shaw
LinkedInExperience: Senior Director R&D Flavour Solutions EMEA · McCormick & Company
Kathy Shaw has been Senior Director R&D Flavour Solutions EMEA at McCormick & Company since October 2025, based in the United Kingdom. Kathy Shaw was Technical Manager Innovation at ZERO2FIVE Food Industry Centre from 2024 to 2025, Group R&D Director Chaucer Foods at Chaucer from 2022 to 2023 and Group R&D Manager there from 2020 to 2023.
Leola Henry, PhD
LinkedInExperience: Vice President Research And Development · McCormick & Company
Leola Henry has been Vice President Research And Development at McCormick & Company since March 2026, based in Hunt Valley, Maryland. Leola Henry was Senior R&D Director at McCormick & Company from 2024 to 2026, R&D Director there from 2017 to 2024 and Senior R&D Manager at General Mills from 1997 to 2017.
Monica De Castro
LinkedInExperience: R&D Director, Brand Aromatics · McCormick & Company
Monica De Castro has been R&D Director, Brand Aromatics at McCormick & Company since July 2020, based in Lakewood, New Jersey. Monica De Castro was Associate R&D Principal Scientist at General Mills from 2016 to 2020, Sr. Scientist at Nestlé from 2012 to 2016 and Senior Food Scientist at General Mills from 1999 to 2008.
Rick Gill
LinkedInExperience: VP R&D · McCormick & Company
Rick Gill has been VP R&D at McCormick & Company since June 2003, based in Baltimore, Maryland, and the profile describes the role as Vice President, Consumer R&D – Americas. Rick Gill also held the title VP R & D Europe Middle East at McCormick & Company from 2009 to 2012 and was Director Product Development at Kraft Heinz from 2001 to 2003.
Silvia Baglioni
LinkedInExperience: Director R&D Specialty Flavours & Ingredients APAC · McCormick & Company
Silvia Baglioni has been Director R&D Specialty Flavours & Ingredients APAC at McCormick & Company since April 2024, based in Singapore, and is also listed as Master Flavourist there since February 2015. Silvia Baglioni was Flavourist at Kerry from 2007 to 2015 and Junior Flavourist at Sensient Technologies Corporation from 2002 to 2006.
Stephen Chapman
LinkedInExperience: R&D Sr Director Flavor Solution & Consumer products LATAM · McCormick & Company
Stephen Chapman has been R&D Sr Director Flavor Solution & Consumer products LATAM at McCormick & Company since October 2024, based in Mexico City, and held the title R&D Innovation Sr. Director LATAM there from 2023 to 2025. Stephen Chapman was Director R&D / DM LATAM at The Clorox Company from 2021 to 2023 and R&D Director Mexico & LATAM Waters at Danone from 2017 to 2021.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose own R&D area, such as consumer products, flavor solutions or a regional team, 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 role, and what did you learn from it?
- 02How do you decide which product development projects your team takes forward and which ones you stop?
- 03How have you built and developed the R&D team that reports to you?
Reaching McCormick R&D leaders
How can I contact one of these McCormick R&D leaders?
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 1 company: McCormick & Company, based on profile data retrieved on October 24, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
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Can an AI agent ask one of these McCormick R&D leaders 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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