공시 • Nov 04
Zoetis Inc. Announces Executive Changes
Zoetis Inc. announced that following a 10-year distinguished career dedicated to advancing veterinary medicine and innovation, Rob Polzer, Ph.D., Executive Vice President and President, Research and Development, has made the personal decision to retire at the end of 2025. After a planful succession process, Zoetis has appointed Kevin Esch, D.V.M, M.P.H., Ph.D., Dipl. ACVP (anatomic) to succeed Dr. Polzer in this role, effective January 1, 2026. Dr. Esch currently serves as Senior Vice President of Global Therapeutics at Zoetis and joined Zoetis in 2014, after a more than 10-year career as a practicing veterinarian and practice owner. He will become a member of the Zoetis executive team and report to Chief Executive Officer Kristin Peck. Dr. Polzer will remain in his role until the end of the year and retire from Zoetis on February 28, 2026. He will be available to the company as a scientific advisor through 2026 and will work closely with Dr. Esch and the leadership team to ensure a seamless transition and continued momentum for Zoetis’ innovation pipeline. Since joining Zoetis in 2014, Dr. Esch has held a series of influential roles within the company’s R&D organization, steadily advancing through positions of increasing responsibility. As Senior Vice President of Global Therapeutics, he leads global research and development efforts spanning pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical portfolios, overseeing discovery, molecule design, pharmacology, safety, and clinical development. His leadership and scientific expertise have driven advancement across Zoetis’ Companion Animal key franchises and Livestock portfolio. He also managed the integration of the company’s Petmedix and Adivo acquisitions and is recognized for his commitment to talent development and workplace culture, earning the title of Working Parent of the Year in 2023. Growing up on an Iowa farm surrounded by animals, Dr. Esch’s immersion in veterinary medicine began in childhood, and his early involvement in the Future Farmers of America laid the foundation for a lifelong dedication to animal health. After earning his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Iowa State University, Dr. Esch entered private practice and became a practice owner, further solidifying his commitment to the field. He continued to expand his expertise with a Master of Public Health from the University of Iowa and a Ph.D. in Immunobiology from Iowa State University, along with board certification in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology. Dr. Esch remains deeply engaged in the veterinary community. He chairs the External Advisory Board for Research at The Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine and has previously served as Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer on the Board of Directors for the American College of Veterinary Pathologists. His enduring passion for veterinary medicine is reflected not only in his professional accomplishments but also in his dedication to mentoring the next generation and advancing the field as a whole. Throughout his tenure, Dr. Polzer’s visionary leadership has been instrumental in propelling Zoetis’ innovative pipeline forward and reinforcing the company’s position as the world leader in animal health. Dr. Polzer championed scientific rigor, continuous innovation and collaboration, inspiring teams to set new standards for research and development. His commitment to excellence has fueled the discovery of transformative therapies, vaccines, and digital solutions that are shaping the future of veterinary medicine. Under Dr. Polzer’s leadership, Zoetis has launched several blockbuster products in new therapeutic areas and built entirely new markets to address unmet medical needs, transforming the standard of care in animal health. Dr. Polzer led the team in launching monoclonal antibody therapies and a growing portfolio of companion animal parasiticides. He has also advanced livestock disease prevention, fostering innovation to address emerging infectious diseases, and has been instrumental in championing AI to accelerate drug discovery. Dr. Polzer joined Zoetis in 2015 as the Head of Global Therapeutics where he led research and development activities to discover and register innovative solutions, before taking on his current role in 2021. Prior to joining Zoetis, Dr. Polzer spent over 20 years in human health with Pfizer in drug metabolism research with roles of increasing organizational impact including global leadership of Pharmacokinetics, Dynamics and Metabolism.