Jeff Simmons is the President and CEO of Elanco, the animal health division of Eli Lilly and Company. He also serves as SVP and Executive Officer of Lilly. Elanco provides comprehensive products and knowledge services to improve animal health, welfare and food animal production with 125 brands in 90 countries. As the head of Elanco Animal Health 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 balanced and diversified business. During his tenure Elanco has tripled in size, created a unique innovation engine, completed 10 acquisitions and built five new businesses, including a $1 billion companion animal business.

In more than two decades with the company, Simmons has held a number of sales, marketing and management positions, in the United States and abroad. These international experiences offered Simmons a new perspective on food and agriculture and created a deep conviction about the need for solutions to global food security. Elanco is bringing this vision to life via a commitment to end hunger for 100,000 families globally through a partnership with Heifer International, and begin breaking the cycle of hunger in 100 communities around the globe. Simmons has become an active advocate for the role technology plays in sustainable, efficient production of safe and affordable protein.

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 protein and partner value. Today, Hatch provides about 45,000 dozen eggs per month to food banks in in communities across the country. Simmons also founded Edge Mentoring, one of the fastest-growing mentorship organizations in the country with more than 700 members in over 40 states, several countries and multiple continents. Edge’s purpose is to equip and accelerate whole-life excellence in the leaders of today and tomorrow.

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 also completed terms as president of Health for Animals, chairman of the FFA Foundation Board and as a board member of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana.

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