Eli Lilly and Company Aligns with Veterinary Channel Partners

LAS VEGAS, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Eli Lilly and Company has aligned with four national veterinary channel partners and has completed the build out of its sales and technical and customer services teams to prepare for the introduction of Lilly brand products into the companion animal health market.

"Eli Lilly and Company is delighted to announce that we've selected four national channel partners we believe will represent Lilly brand products with the highest possible standards and most efficient service to veterinary professionals," said Eric Graves, director, companion animal health.

Channel partners that will carry Lilly brand products upon their introduction include Butler Animal Health Supply of Dublin, Ohio; MWI Veterinary Supply of Nampa, Idaho; Professional Veterinary Products, Ltd., of Omaha, Neb.; and Webster Veterinary Supply, Inc., of Sterling, Mass.

Graves also used the occasion of the Western States Veterinary Conference in Las Vegas, at which the company is exhibiting, to introduce the company's companion animal health management team and staff. The company announced it has finalized the marketing, sales, and technical and customer service infrastructure needed to support the imminent launch of Lilly brand products for the companion animal health market.

Shawn McKee, sales manager, announced the appointment of Tana Peterson as sales training and operations associate. District sales managers named by McKee are Mike Braswell, Doug Brooks and Theron Richards. National account representatives Cheri Howe, Elizabeth Rutishauser, Dennis Wine and Heather Stephens also have been hired, McKee added. The company has completed hiring its field sales force as well.

Steve Connell, D.V.M., manager of technical, academic and customer services, announced Tony Rumschlag, D.V.M., has been named senior technical consultant, and Shermika Duerson has been appointed customer service leader. Additionally, the technical, academic and consumer services group has hired six veterinarians, three for field operations and three for the Lilly Call Center to provide technical and case management support to veterinarians. Veterinary technicians and consumer service assistants have been hired to provide additional customer care.

Cathy Martin, marketing manager, announced two recent additions to the global marketing and planning marketing team. James McDougall and Michele Rohrig join Chris Ready in product management and global marketing and planning posts.

"We appreciate that the companion animal sector is a dynamic marketplace, and our value to the profession will be measured by the performance of our products and our people," said Graves, noting that the company's first product introductions are expected within the year, pending approval by the FDA. These medicines will address serious conditions that negatively affect both pet health and the human-pet bond.

"Supporting the role of veterinarians and enabling them to help pets is at the heart of everything Lilly will do," Graves said. "Lilly will become one of companion animal veterinarians' most trusted and valued partners. We could not be more proud of the team we've assembled and our veterinary channel partners."

Lilly, a leading innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers -- through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is available at http://www.lilly.com/; and about Lilly companion animal health at http://www.lillypet.com/.