Elanco Animal Health Appoints Jamie Preston as Chief People Officer
Key Highlights
- ➤Jamie Preston named Elanco executive vice president and chief people officer, effective November 3rd
- ➤Dave Kinard plans to retire at year-end after shaping Elanco’s post-IPO HR infrastructure
- ➤Preston joins Elanco after 23 years at Eli Lilly, including nearly two decades in HR leadership
- ➤Elanco employee engagement reaches its highest level since the company’s IPO, Jeff Simmons says
Expert Statements
Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco
“Jamie is a visionary, dynamic leader with the speed and agility that defines Elanco. She has deep global experience across every facet of human resources, from organizational design and talent development to workforce innovation and digital transformation”
Jamie Preston, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Elanco
“Elanco’s purpose - food and companionship enriching lives - deeply resonates with me”
Jamie Preston, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer of Elanco
“I am excited to partner with our global teams to champion our people, advance workforce innovation and cultivate a culture where our talent thrives as we deliver for veterinarians, pet owners, farmers and the animals in their care.”
Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco
“As Elanco continues to drive growth and deliver on our purpose of enriching the lives of animals and people, Jamie’s proven track record of building high-performing, inclusive cultures and shaping forward-looking workforce strategies makes her an ideal fit for our executive team. Her shared heritage with our roots at Lilly brings a deep understanding of values-based, science-driven organizations.”
Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco
“Today our employee engagement is the highest since our IPO, backed by a culture and brand in a position of strength because of Dave’s dedicated leadership and enduring contributions”
Jeff Simmons, President and CEO of Elanco
“Dave has been a trusted partner, and we appreciate his commitment to supporting Jamie through the end of the year to ensure continuity for our teams around the world, and we wish him all the best in his well-deserved retirement.”
INDIANAPOLIS, IN / ACCESS Newswire / October 22, 2026 / Preston brings more than two decades of global HR leadership and workforce innovation experience; Dave Kinard to retire at year-end
Elanco Animal Health Incorporated (NYSE:ELAN) today announced the appointment of Jamie Preston as Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, effective November 3(rd). Preston's appointment follows an extensive and competitive search as part of the company's commitment to attract, develop and retain an engaged global workforce while embedding inclusion, well-being and purpose into daily operations. Preston succeeds Dave Kinard, who intends to retire at the end of the year. Kinard will work closely with Preston in the coming months to ensure a seamless leadership transition.
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