As the head of Elanco 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 diversified business. During Simmons’ tenure Elanco has quadrupled in size, created a unique innovation engine, completed 13 acquisitions, and built five new businesses, including a $1 billion companion animal business, and a leading aquaculture business. In 2018, Simmons navigated the company’s separation from Eli Lilly and Company, culminating with Elanco’s listing on the New York Stock Exchange as an independent public company solely dedicated to animal health. Most recently, he has orchestrated the industry’s largest acquisition to date with the completion of Elanco’s purchase of Bayer Animal Health.
In his 30 years with the company, Simmons has held an array of roles, from sales and marketing to R&D across multiple continents. In these roles, Simmons gained a new perspective on food, agriculture and companionship that has sparked a deep conviction for the power of healthy animals. Healthier animals are the key to solving some of the world’s most pressing issues, such as food security and nutrition, human health and well-being, and environmental sustainability. Animals are the x-factor the world has been looking for – the game-changing variable that will unlock solutions to these seemingly disconnected issues of physical, mental and environmental health. The Elanco team is purpose-driven, chasing a vision of Food and Companionship Enriching Life.
Simmons brings his passions for food security and enabling leaders to life 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 eggs to food banks across the country. Simmons also founded Edge Mentoring, one of the fastest-growing mentorship organizations in the country, designed to equip and accelerate whole-life excellence in leaders.
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 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.
All are welcome at Rotary programs.
To join our meeting via Zoom starting at 12:15 p.m. (join 10-15 minutes early to socialize and network) and ending promptly at 1:15 p.m. go to https://zoom.us/j/710170874?
Registration is not required to join the meeting. If you’d like to join via your mobile phone or tablet you can download the free Zoom app.
Meeting ID: 710 170 874
Password: 821795
If joining via a mobile phone for audio only click one of the following numbers:
+13126266799,,710170874#,,#,
+19292056099,,710170874#,,#,
You can also join us from a landline phone.
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 929 205 6099 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 710 170 874
Password: 821795
Find your local number: https://zoom.us/u/abV7RufTKj
Go here to view instructions on how to prepare for your first Zoom call. If you have questions about joining the meeting contact the office at info@indyrotary.org.
