VEVEY, SWITZERLAND – Stefan Catsicas has been named executive vice-president and chief technology officer of Nestle S.A., effective Sept. 1. He succeeds Werner Bauer, who plans to retire on Aug. 31, following 23 years with the company.

“Werner Bauer shaped Nestle’s R.&D. capabilities for more than 20 years and laid the scientific foundations for our innovation-driven approach to nutrition, health and wellness,” said Paul Bulcke, chief executive officer of Nestle. “He created a global R.&D. network and was also instrumental in paving the way for our future activities in the area of health science.”

Mr. Catsicas is currently provost and executive vice-president of the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology in Saudi Arabia. He has a doctorate in natural sciences from the University of Lausanne and completed post-doctoral studies at the Scripps Research Institute in San Diego. He brings a research and development background in business and academia to the post.

“I am confident that Stefan Catsicas will further strengthen this drive across many scientific fields,” Mr. Bulcke said. “Bringing together his extensive experience in academia, open innovation and business Stefan Catsicas has the right competences to reinforce and advance our unmatched R.&D. capabilities and bring them to new levels of achievement.”