Director, Clinical and Scientific Affairs – Derma, Beiersdorf

Frank Kirchner is a highly focused and results-driven scientific leader with over 20 years of industry experience managing technology development programs aimed to deliver clinically proven benefits, with a focus on microbiology, microbiome, and dermatology. Currently serving as Director of Clinical and Scientific Affairs at Beiersdorf, he leads the Clinical & Scientific Affairs team supporting Derma brands, including Eucerin and Aquaphor. In this role, Frank is the principal expert for clinical testing to support product safety and advertising claims and acts as a key liaison to internal stakeholders, consumers, and healthcare professionals. 

Prior to joining Beiersdorf, Frank held several senior R&D roles at Johnson & Johnson (now Kenvue), where he led initiatives in emerging science, probiotic development, and microbiome research as part of the Future of Self Care and Upstream Innovation teams. His work has focused on identifying, validating, and de-risking early-stage science with the potential to deliver breakthrough consumer health solutions. 

Frank holds a B.A. in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry and an M.S. in Microbiology. Passionate about delivering great science, he is known for his empowering leadership style, bold decision-making, and commitment to inspiring others. When not in the lab or leading strategy sessions, Frank enjoys life as a proud “Dance Dad” in a soccer-loving, baseball-playing family with his wife Gen, their three children—Aubrey, Lincoln, and Maverick—and their two bullies, Cannoli Sfogliatella and Lolo Raviolo.