Dr. Rob Polzer to Retire at the End of the Year After 10-Year Distinguished Career of Advancing Veterinary Medicine and Innovation
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.
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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.
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Setting the Pace for Innovation and Expansion in Veterinary Medicine
Zoetis continues to advance care for animals across the globe with a robust pipeline fueled by lifecycle innovation, geographic expansion and disruptive innovation. As noted at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in January, the company expects a significant approval in a major market every year for the next several years. With 17 blockbuster products and more than 2,000 new products and lifecycle innovations introduced in the last 12 years, Zoetis has invested more in R&D than any other animal health company, advancing care in entirely new categories to address unmet needs, capturing emerging markets and continuing to drive new growth.
Zoetis will host an Innovation Webcast on Tuesday, December 2 at 8:30 a.m. ET, where the company will provide investors and the general public with an update on Zoetis’ innovative pipeline, details about the company’s strategic approach to addressing unmet needs, its industry-leading R&D capabilities and potential for long-term growth.
“During his 10 years with Zoetis, Rob’s vision, scientific rigor and commitment to our purpose have enabled Zoetis to remain at the forefront of animal health, strengthening our leadership, innovation and impact across the industry,” said Kristin Peck, Chief Executive Officer, Zoetis. “We are deeply grateful for his dedication and the lasting contributions he has made to our company, our colleagues, and the customers we serve. As Rob transitions to an advisory role in 2026, Kevin and I look forward to his continued counsel and guidance as we build on the strong foundation he has helped create.”
“Kevin’s scientific vision and lifelong commitment to animal health have elevated Zoetis’ global therapeutics portfolio and inspired teams across our organization,” Peck added. “His leadership has not only been critical in advancing our innovative pipeline but also in setting a standard of excellence and collaboration that strengthens our entire industry. I am confident that Kevin’s forward-thinking approach and dedication to veterinary medicine will lead Zoetis in continuing to address unmet needs through disruptive innovation, fueling growth and propelling Zoetis forward as the leader in animal health.”
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Source- businesswire
