Rania Abou Samra serves as the Vice President and Head of Innovation and Research & Development at Nestlé Middle East and North Africa, a position she has held since April 2025. With over 20 years of experience in Nutrition and R&D, she brings a strong technical and scientific background to drive innovation.

Prior to her current role, Rania was the Global Head of Product & Technology Development for Nestlé Health Science, a role she assumed in January 2022. This followed her tenure as Vice President of Research and Development at the Vital Proteins business. Her professional journey also includes her work as the Global Director of Science and Technology at Nestlé Health Science and Global R&D Lead for Consumer Care. Throughout her time at various Nestlé research centers, she has leveraged her expertise and entrepreneurial spirit to translate scientific and technical insights into groundbreaking innovations for both patients and consumers.

Rania holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics from the American University of Beirut. She also earned a PhD in Obesity and Nutrition from the University of Toronto. Her personal and professional mission is to advance nutrition and positively impact lives through science, driven by her commitment to making the benefits of nutrition accessible to all.