George Heidgerken Appointed President of IFAH

Brussels, 18 March 2015 – George Heidgerken has been appointed for a two-year term as President of the International Federation for Animal Health (IFAH), the worldwide organisation representing the manufacturers of veterinary medicines.

Corporate Senior Vice President of Boehringer Ingelheim and Global Head of Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health, George Heidgerken has extensive and global experience of the animal health sector. Prior to his current position, he sat as President and CEO of Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica Inc. USA, where he was responsible for marketing and sales, research and development, and manufacturing. Commenting on his appointment as President, Heidgerken stated: “I am delighted to take on this new role, especially with the exciting developments that we expect to see in the upcoming months. The admirable work of my predecessor, Jeff Simmons, will be built upon; I am grateful to the board for the confidence they have placed in me.” Heidgerken’s background in agriculture is something he will proudly draw on, as he continues: “I am looking forward to enhancing awareness of the animal health sector across the globe. I aim to bring the topics of food security, innovation, pets and prevention of diseases to the forefront of discussions on global health issues. The relationship between animal health and human wellbeing has never been more pertinent and globally we need to support the research and development of new technologies, to help ensure a sustainable future “ Executive Director of IFAH Carel du Marchie Sarvaas remarked on the appointment, saying: “Mr Heidgerken joins us during a period of transition. His role will be vital in communicating our vision for a healthier world through an innovative, responsible and sustainable animal health sector. I look forward to working with him on further enhancing a global, unified voice for the animal health industry and in making sure this voice is heard around the world. “ IFAH, a global non-profit organisation, aims to foster greater understanding of animal health matters by being the global voice of the industry in dealing with governments, food chain partners and consumers.

For a full biography of George Heidgerken, please visit the IFAH website – About Us.