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Zoetis Announces Retirement of Rob Polzer at the End of 2025 and the Appointment of Kevin Esch as President of Research & Development for World Leader in Animal Health Beginning in 2026

ZTS
  • Zoetis announced that Dr. Rob Polzer will retire from his role as Executive Vice President & President of Research and Development at the end of 2025 after a 10-year career.
  • Dr. Polzer will officially retire from the company on February 28, 2026, & serve as a scientific advisor through 2026 to ensure a seamless transition.
  • Dr. Kevin Esch, currently Senior Vice President of Global Therapeutics, has been appointed to succeed Dr. Polzer effective January 1, 2026.
  • Dr. Esch joined Zoetis in 2014 after a decade as a practicing veterinarian & practice owner, & will report to CEO Kristin Peck.
  • Zoetis highlighted its robust R&D pipeline, noting 17 blockbuster products & over 2,000 innovations introduced in the last 12 years.
  • The company expects a significant product approval in a major market annually for the coming years, driven by lifecycle innovation & geographic expansion.
  • Zoetis will host an Innovation Webcast on December 2 at 8:30 a.m. ET to update investors on its strategic approach & growth potential.
  • Dr. Polzer previously spent over 20 years in human health at Pfizer before joining Zoetis in 2015, where he led the launch of monoclonal antibody therapies & AI-driven drug discovery initiatives.
  • Dr. Esch holds a D.V.M., M.P.H., Ph.D., & is board-certified in Veterinary Anatomic Pathology, with past leadership roles including integrating the Petmedix & Adivo acquisitions.
  • Zoetis reported 2024 revenue of $9.3 billion, operates in over 100 countries, & employs approximately 13,800 people.