Published: October 6, 2026
Maypro CEO May Yamada-Lifton sat down with Nutraceuticals World’s Health E-Insights column to discuss where the company is headed as it nears its 50th anniversary.
Yamada-Lifton joined Maypro from pharmaceuticals, data science and finance. She said arriving as an outsider let her question long-held habits, particularly around AI, ecommerce and how consumers connect with health products.
She described differentiation as the industry’s central challenge, with crowded shelves and new brands easier than ever to launch. Maypro’s response, she said, is to work as a partner to brands on science, positioning and commercialization.
Growth priorities include women’s health, microbiome science, cognitive wellness and healthy aging. She also outlined Maypro’s use of AI for market intelligence and closer collaboration across Japan, the U.S., China and India.
Yamada-Lifton closed by reflecting on legacy, citing the Japanese concept of ikigai as a guide for the company’s next 50 years.
