PepsiCo’s Marianne O’Shea Champions Health Innovation from Ireland
Marianne O’Shea, Vice President of Global Nutrition Science at PepsiCo and head of the company’s Ireland-based global nutrition R&D center, is driving strategic innovation in food and beverage health from the heart of Ireland. With a proven track record in nutrition science and product development, O’Shea has become a central figure in aligning PepsiCo’s global portfolio with the rising demand for healthier, science-backed products.
The PepsiCo Global Nutrition Research & Development Center, located in Little Island, Cork, serves as one of the company’s global hubs for nutrition innovation and scientific advancement. Under O’Shea’s leadership, the center focuses on enhancing the nutritional value of the company’s broad portfolio, including work on sodium reduction, whole grains, protein enhancement, and functional ingredients. The facility plays a pivotal role in meeting PepsiCo’s commitment to deliver more positive nutrition across its brands.
O’Shea, who joined PepsiCo in 2010 following the acquisition of functional ingredient pioneer Pangenetics, leverages her deep expertise in nutrition to target both consumer wellness and regulatory expectations. She also leads PepsiCo’s Global R&D Fellowship Program, designed to nurture the next generation of scientists and promote cutting-edge nutritional research with practical, scalable applications.
Strategically, the location of the R&D center in Cork allows PepsiCo to tap into Ireland’s robust science and technology ecosystem. Ireland serves as a European gateway for collaboration across academia, industry partners, and government bodies, enhancing innovation pipelines and reinforcing PepsiCo’s scientific credibility in functional and better-for-you offerings.
Beyond her corporate role, O’Shea also supports philanthropic initiatives as a director on the board of The Ireland Funds America, advocating educational and scientific advancement on both sides of the Atlantic. Her dual influence—within PepsiCo and in broader transatlantic development—is emblematic of the evolving role FMCG leaders are playing in linking science, health, and global impact.
For FMCG professionals, O’Shea’s work highlights a key trend: nutrition-driven product innovation is no longer optional but central to maintaining relevance in a health-conscious marketplace. With science-backed reformulations and R&D leadership grounded in global collaboration, brands are positioning themselves to meet evolving consumer expectations while navigating increasingly complex regulatory landscapes.