|
 |
|
|
|||
|
 |
|
Feb. 23, 2015 National Agri-Marketing Association (NAMA) reports: Clint Lewis is Executive Vice President and President, U.S. Operations, for Zoetis -- the world's largest animal health company. In this role, he leads the livestock (cattle, pork, and poultry) and companion animal (small animal and equine) businesses in the United States, as well as the global genetics business. Clint has led the U.S. business of Zoetis since 2007. Clint's steadfast commitment to the animal health and specifically, the animal agriculture sector, illustrates a record of accomplishment and influence. Criteria No. 1: Leadership Leadership takes many forms and, done correctly, inspires many positive outcomes. Clint's leadership in the launch of Zoetis -- the largest stand-alone, publicly traded animal health company solely focused to support veterinarians and livestock producers in the pursuit of better health and well-being for animals -- was evident not only within the company but also recognized across the greater agricultural community. Commitment To Veterinarians And Producers Clint has helped to spearhead Zoetis' ongoing commitment to support and help advance the veterinarian and livestock producer profession to continuously raise the bar on animal health. Through funding student scholarships, internships, research fellowships and professional continuing education workshops, Zoetis does more to support the veterinarian and producer profession in the U.S. than any other company. As a member of the Executive Committee and immediate past chair of the Board of Directors for the Animal Health Institute (AHI), the trade association for U.S. research-based animal health companies, Clint has played a key role in helping to advance legislation to support both veterinarian and livestock producer groups and to ensure support for animal care. Key areas of support ranged from Congressional approval for the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA), the 2014 Farm Bill, to the Rural Veterinarian Loan Repayment Program and the Rural Veterinarian Mobility Bill. Success in these federal regulations have and will continue to ensure that veterinarians and livestock producers alike have the resources and support to better enable their livelihood and further improve animal health and food safety in the U.S. Leadership On The Importance of Diversity Clint has been at the forefront of advancing diversity in the veterinary and animal health professions, specifically in educating the next generation of veterinarians. For six consecutive years, Zoetis has invited second- and third-year students of veterinary medicine to apply for the Zoetis Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. Since the launch of the scholarship program in the fall of 2010, more than $2.7 million in scholarship funding has been awarded to more than 1,100 exceptional veterinary students. In addition to traditional selection criteria of academic excellence and financial need, the scholarship focuses on meeting ongoing needs of the veterinary profession such as diversity -- working to encourage and support more women and people of different cultural backgrounds to pursue education and careers in veterinary medicine (specifically production animals) and animal agriculture. Clint has also been a champion of improving diversity within Zoetis -- helping to initiate and support Zoetis' Diversity & Inclusion Council as well as the Zoetis Women's Council. These groups have also worked to share best practices and support many diversity initiatives across veterinary and agricultural organizations. External validation for Zoetis' commitment to diversity came in 2014 when the company was named among the top 10 on Working Mother magazine's "100 Best Companies for Working Mothers" list. The publication selects the top 100 companies in the U.S. that have demonstrated their commitment to progressive workplace programs. Zoetis was ranked highly by Working Mother for its benefits and work-life programs, including flexible work arrangements, health and wellness offerings, back-up child care, employee discounts, paid time off, leaves of absence, adoption assistance and tuition aid programs. These initiatives have been successful in large part because of Clint's dedicated sponsorship. Criteria No. 2: Innovative Ability A hallmark of any effective leader is the ability to recognize the intersection of challenge and opportunity, and forge a successful and positive path forward. Several examples from the past year illustrate Clint's unique ability to achieve results that matter to Zoetis, to customers and to the broader ag community. Leadership In New Solutions For Veterinarians And Producers Clint is focused on continuously innovating to develop animal health solutions that meet the needs of those who raise and care for animals. R&D is at the core of Zoetis' efforts to provide innovative outcomes that anticipate the future needs of veterinarians and livestock producers in their local markets around the globe. In September, 2014, Zoetis announced that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) had granted a conditional license for a vaccine to help fight porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDv) in pigs, which has been immensely challenging to pork producers. PEDv was first diagnosed in the United States in April 2013 and since then has spread to 30 states, causing more than seven million deaths in piglets. Under Clint's leadership, and in collaboration with many other parts of Zoetis, the company succeeded in delivering a much welcomed solution against PEDv in approximately one year since this disease was identified. Leadership On The Responsible Use Of Antibiotics As the leading animal health company with the largest anti-infective portfolio, Zoetis is central to the current scientific and policy debate about the balance between protecting animal health, ensuring safe food, and maintaining the long-term efficacy of antibiotics. In December 2013, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration established procedures for voluntarily phasing out growth promotion claims for livestock antibiotics, as well as a proposed rule requiring antibiotics used in feed to require prescriptions from veterinarians. Clint, as a member of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Board of the Animal Health Institute (AHI), the U.S. trade association for the animal health industry, played a key role in working directly with the FDA to ensure a rational and science-based approach. The outcome of Clint's efforts was a framework that strengthens the responsible use of antibiotics in livestock, protects the availability of needed medicines and elevates the critical role of veterinarians to oversee the use of antibiotics on farms. Leadership On The Human-Animal Bond Clint pioneered a historic partnership between the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibitions, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and The American Veterinary Medical Foundation to create "Animal Connections: Our Journey Together," a mobile exhibit devoted to the multi-faceted relationship between people and animals. Created to introduce visitors to the world of veterinary medicine and inspire future generations of veterinary professionals, Animal Connections celebrated the enduring bond humans share with animals. As Clint noted in a press conference announcing the partnership, "This exhibition affirms our commitment to veterinarians as we strive to enhance public understanding of the essential role veterinary professionals play in sustaining animal health and, consequently, safeguarding public health." More than 160,000 consumers visited the innovative mobile program on its two-year tour across the United States, and media coverage of the tour generated more than 75 million media impressions. Criteria No. 3: Accomplishment Zoetis believes veterinarians need to be at the center of animal health - and at the core of the company's focus. Clint has been a prime architect of this philosophy, which expresses itself through a number of compelling examples. Through industry and public discussion about antibiotic use in livestock, Clint has consistently advocated that the veterinarian remain central to the conversation. Research shows that consumers are more confident that animals are being properly cared for, and antibiotics used judiciously, when a veterinarian is involved. The innovative Commitment to Veterinarians platform - a far-reaching, multi-dimensional strategy to address challenges facing the veterinary profession and help ensure its vibrant future - was launched in 2010 under Clint's leadership. Today, under the auspices of the Commitment to Veterinarians platform, Zoetis donates millions of dollars and countless hours to supporting the profession. The Zoetis Commitment to Veterinarians Facebook community now boasts 165,000 engaged users - the largest such online community of veterinarians, technicians and allied audiences in the country. In addition, Zoetis' widely popular "Veterinarians on Call" series on YouTube, designed to educate consumers on the important role of vets through a reality-TV approach, boasts more than 4.4 million views and 3,600 subscribers. The series also has a substantial role in educating consumers who are increasingly curious about how their food is produced. The company's Companion Animal Division has boldly elevated the conversation around product diversion - or the "gray-market" distribution of prescription products via retail outlets that effectively cut out the veterinarian. The company's anti-diversion policies are built around a belief that an integrated veterinarian-client-patient relationship is critical for the optimal health of pets. Despite some risks associated with taking such a bold public stance against the distribution of products outside the veterinary channel, Clint in 2013 recognized the opportunity to advocate for the veterinarian and drive the probability of better health outcomes for pets via a public discussion of diversion. Zoetis launched a section on its U.S. website about diversion, engaged customers directly on the topic and even included a means for veterinarians to report known diverters. Criteria No. 4: Industry Leadership Even given the demands of leading the U.S. business of the world's largest animal health company, Clint is remarkably engaged among professional organizations that serve the animal health profession. Clint's involvement with outside organizations includes: The Animal Health Institute (AHI), the leading trade association advocating on various issues important to the industry • Member 2007-present • Vice Chair, 2009-2010 • Chair, 2011-2012 Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine • Advisory Council Member, 2013 Western University School of Veterinary Medicine • Advisory Board Member, 2014 Morris Animal Foundation • Board of Trustees, 2015 American Humane Association • Keynote speaker, Be Humane Summit, 2013 Vet Health Global, North America's premier international animal health and nutrition business conference • Honorary Chair, 2013 INROADS, national non-profit organization focused on improving diversity in corporate America • National Board Member 100 Diverse Corporate Leaders in STEM • 2014 Honoree Tweet |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|||||||||||||
