Plexus Worldwide has tapped Alan Jiang, M.D., Ph.D., to serve as Vice President of Research and Development. The role provides oversight of product development, medical affairs, claims substantiation and science education at the health and wellness company.
Since earning his M.D. from the College of Medicine at China’s Zhejiang University, one of the top schools in Asia, Jiang has held research and management roles in both academia and the dietary supplement and food industries. His articles have appeared in outlets such as the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition and the Journal of Medicinal Food, in addition to a book chapter published by the Pharmaceutical Press.
“A graduate with honors from one of the most prestigious medical universities in the world, and with numerous published studies, Dr. Jiang brings Plexus a 20-year track record of success within academia and the health and wellness industry, researching and developing top-quality products,” said Cindy Latham, Chief Marketing Officer at Plexus.
Most recently a senior scientist with established herbs and spices brand McCormick & Co., Jiang previously was Director of Scientific Affairs for a top direct selling nutrition company. Before transitioning to the health and nutrition industry, he was appointed as a faculty member and Laboratory Director of the Center for Human Nutrition, the world-class research center at John Hopkins University.
“In considering this opportunity, I was very impressed by the company’s leadership, and it was clear that Plexus was on the right track—not only because of its fast growth but because of its long-term investments and commitment to excellence and science,” said Jiang.
Founded in 2008, Plexus logged revenue of $384 million last year, landing the No. 46 spot on the 2016 DSN Global 100, a list of the top direct selling companies in the world. The Arizona-based company ranks No. 28 among North America-based direct sellers.
