VetHealth Global™, North America’s premier International Animal Health and Nutrition Business Conference is pleased to announce that Jeff Simmons, President & CEO, Elanco Animal Health will serve as VetHealth Global’s 2019 Honourary Chair. Simmons joins a long list of veteran Industry experts who have served as Honourary Chair for the International Animal Health and Nutrition Business Conference. Since 2007, VetHealth Global has featured Dr. George Gunn, Dr. Brendan Fox, Clint Lewis, Dr. Peter H. Jones, Rick DeLuca, and George Heidgerken. Read full Release.
Jeff Simmons serves as president and CEO of Elanco Animal Health. A global leader with a 60-year track record of growth, Elanco provides comprehensive products and knowledge services to improve animal health, welfare and food animal production with 125 brands in 90 countries. As the head of Elanco Animal Health for the past decade, Simmons has directed the company’s transformation from a primarily US feed additive company to a premier global player with a balanced and diversified business. During Simmons’ tenure, Elanco has tripled in size, created a unique innovation engine, completed 10 acquisitions and built five new businesses, including a $1 billion companion animal business. In his nearly 30 years with the company, Simmons has held an array of roles, from sales and marketing to country director in Brazil, area director for West Europe and executive director for North America and Global Research & Development. In these roles, Simmons gained a new perspective on food, agriculture and companionship that has sparked a deep conviction for finding solutions to achieve global food security through a One Health approach. He’s authored white papers on this subject and helped found the Enough Movement, a 30,000-member global community dedicated to building dialogue and finding practical solutions for a food-secure world. The Elanco team is grounded in delivering a higher purpose: Food and Companionship Enriching Life. The team helps animals and pets live healthy, good quality lives. They support the physical, emotional and social well-being of people through a balanced diet rich in protein and the companionship of pets. And, they preserve the health of the planet by helping farmers raise animals more efficiently. Simmons brings his passions for food security and enabling leaders to live daily through his pursuits with Hatch™ and Edge Mentoring. As the co-founder of Hatch, Simmons and the team have created a unique, donation-free model to deliver sustained food security through protein and partner value. Today, Hatch provides eggs to food banks in communities across the country. Simmons also founded Edge Mentoring, one of the fastest-growing mentorship organizations in the country, present in over 40 states and reaching into several countries and multiple continents. Edge’s purpose is to equip and accelerate whole-life excellence in the leaders of today and tomorrow. Simmons has also held a number of leadership positions, including serving as a former board member and chairman of the compensation committee for Chiquita Brands. He has also completed terms as president of the Health for Animals, chairman of the FFA Foundation Board and as a board member of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana. For more, you can follow Jeff and Elanco on social media @JeffSimmons2050, @Elanco, or view the ENOUGH report at ENOUGHmovement.com.