By: Bianca Mendoza
Shameem Kazmi sees R&D not just as a function, but as a strategic engine for growth. Over two decades of leadership, he has reshaped how global businesses view innovation, positioning it as a lever to deliver long-term shareholder value, societal impact, and competitive advantage. At the core of his philosophy is a belief that purpose and profit are not at odds, but interdependent.
As Group Research and Development Director at Britvic plc, acquired by the Carlsberg Group in a $4.2 billion deal in January 2025, Kazmi led transformative innovation strategies that positioned R&D as a growth catalyst across markets. Kazmi led a transformation that embedded sustainability into the company’s core operating model. Under his direction, R&D became central to unlocking new value through health-driven product platforms, regenerative design, and climate-aligned packaging innovation. These shifts were not just technical, they delivered material business results and reinforced investor confidence in the company’s future-facing strategy.
Recognised with the 2025 Global Recognition Award, Kazmi’s leadership model is grounded in scientific depth, commercial acuity, and long-term thinking. His vision extended beyond operational performance, focusing on building internal capabilities and innovation ecosystems that endure future-proofing both business resilience and market relevance.
“I believe our role in R&D is to make science investable,” Kazmi explains. “That means delivering measurable growth while also shaping a future that stakeholders want to be part of.” This balance of ambition and accountability continues to influence how global companies design innovation strategies that are commercially robust and ethically grounded.
The Architect Of Change At Britvic
As Group R&D Director, Kazmi has orchestrated a comprehensive corporate transformation in the food and beverage sector. His approach centers on embedding environmental, social, and governance principles directly into business strategy rather than treating them as separate initiatives.
Kazmi’s leadership has focused on building world-class R&D capabilities that deliver long-term growth and competitive advantage. His strategic approach integrates talent development, scientific rigour, and future-fit innovation systems, ensuring that sustainability is not a siloed initiative but a core growth engine. Under his direction, R&D has become a platform for capability development, cultivating internal expertise, fostering cross-sector partnerships, and aligning innovation pipelines with evolving consumer, regulatory, and environmental demands.
“I lead by doing and by showing what’s possible when purpose meets action,” Kazmi explains. “The climate goals written into strategy are a promise to future generations.” This philosophy has translated into platforms spanning health, packaging, breakthrough innovation and regenerative agriculture that deliver both commercial success and measurable societal impact.
Beyond Corporate Boundaries
Kazmi’s influence extends beyond Britvic’s operations into public policy and education. Previously, a policy advisor to both the European Commission and the UK’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, he helped shape regulatory policy for sustainability. His Fellowship in three national institutes and Honorary Professor appointment reflect his commitment to advancing scientific knowledge and developing future talent. In 2024, he was honoured with the King’s Award for Enterprise in Sustainability, following his recognition as the Institute of Directors ‘Director of the Year’ in 2021.
Kazmi serves as an Independent Non-Executive Director for The Football Association, where he champions diversity and inclusion initiatives, sustainability and culture, and is particularly focused on women’s development in football. These roles demonstrate his belief that leadership transcends traditional industry boundaries and requires active engagement in creating more equitable opportunities across different sectors.
His mentorship programs for aspiring scientists, graduates, and young professionals have created what colleagues describe as a multiplier effect, with participants demonstrating accelerated career progression. “Every young person I’ve mentored, every voice I’ve helped lift in women’s football, every room I’ve tried to open to new perspectives, that’s the change that stays with me,” he reflects.
A Legacy Of Integrated Leadership
Organisations across sectors have drawn on Kazmi’s strategic approaches to sustainability, recognizing them as practical models for aligning profit with purpose. His regular contributions through guest lectures, industry conferences, and published articles and his latest book, provide climate change awareness and practical guidance for implementing sustainable business practices.
What distinguishes Kazmi’s approach is his understanding that effective leadership in today’s business environment requires thinking beyond immediate outcomes to consider long-term societal impact. His work demonstrates that companies can achieve both commercial success and environmental responsibility when they integrate purpose into their core strategy, rather than treating it as an afterthought.
Disclaimer: The content provided in this article is for informational purposes only.. Any actions taken based on the information in this article are strictly at the reader’s own risk. Readers are encouraged to verify any details independently.
