GREENFIELD, IND. — Elanco Animal Health announced April 20 it has added a chief marketing officer, three executive vice presidents and seven other executive-level leaders to “add depth and experience” to the company’s leadership.
Racquel Harris Mason joins Elanco as chief marketing officer and executive vice president, effective immediately. She brings more than 25 years of management and consumer marketing experience to the role.
Previously, Mason served as senior vice president of the Coca-Cola Company’s United States McDonald’s division, as well as vice president of Coca-Cola and Coke Zero brands. She also draws experience from earlier brand management roles with Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson, and Procter & Gamble.
Dirk Ehle, global head of Bayer Animal Health, will join Elanco’s executive committee as executive vice president and president of Elanco’s Europe division directly following the company’s acquisition of Bayer.
Elanco entered an agreement to acquire Bayer Animal Health on August 20, 2019, for approximately $7.6 billion.
Joyce Lee, president of Bayer’s North America division, will transition to executive vice president and president of Elanco’s pet health and commercial operations division in the United States following the merger. Her previous experience includes commercial leadership roles with Pfizer, Zoetis and Pharmacia Human Health.
José Simas will join Elanco as executive vice president of the company’s United States farm animal division, effective immediately. Simas has previously worked for Elanco in various product management roles, including as senior director of Latin America and global aquaculture, senior director of Elanco’s United States beef business, and area director of several international regions. Most recently, he served as president of Trouw Nutrition USA.
“With our anticipated addition of Bayer Animal Health, we’re looking to ensure we have the right structure and right leadership in place to support the combined organization and accelerate the benefits we’ve already experienced in being singularly focused on animal health,” said Jeff Simmons, president and chief executive officer of Elanco. “Our people have always been Elanco’s differentiator. So, in our executive selection process we focused on identifying people-focused leaders with a proven ability to build, lead and grow an integrated, global business.”
Seven other leaders were appointed to Elanco’s executive committee. They include: Aaron Schacht, executive vice president of innovation, regulatory and business development; David Kinard, executive vice president of human resources; David Urbanek, executive vice president of manufacturing and quality; Michael Bryant Hicks, executive vice president of general counsel and corporate secretary; Ramiro Cabral, executive vice president and president of Elanco International; Sarena Lin, executive vice president of transformation and technology; and Todd Young, executive vice president and chief financial officer.
All new executive committee members will report to Simmons.
Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.