LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y. — Jeff George has been named to the newly created role of senior vice-president of research and development at The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. He joins the company’s executive leadership team and will report directly to Mark L. Schiller, president and chief executive officer.

For the past five months, Mr. George has served as a consultant to Hain Celestial, working with Mr. Schiller and the leadership team to assess innovation performance, identify gaps and opportunities and build strategies for improvement. He will be responsible for helping the company simplify its portfolio, strengthen capabilities, restore top-line growth and expand margins and cash flow.

A seasoned executive with more than three decades of consumer packaged goods experience, Mr. George previously held senior leadership roles in R.&D. at Campbell Soup Co., Hillshire Brands and PepsiCo, Inc.

He has a bachelor of science degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and a master of business administration degree from Southern Methodist University Cox School of Business.