Ceva Animal Health appoints former MSD executive to lead Southern Europe

FRANCE – Ceva Animal Health has appointed Cathy Winnepenninckx as Vice President for South Europe, placing the former MSD Animal Health executive in charge of one of the company’s key regional operations spanning Iberia, Italy, Malta, Greece and Cyprus.

The appointment comes as Ceva continues to expand its presence across Europe and to strengthen customer engagement, innovation, and market growth initiatives in both the livestock and companion animal sectors.

Winnepenninckx joins the role after serving as Country Manager for Ceva Canada, where she led the company’s operations in one of North America’s major animal health markets.

In her new position, she will oversee commercial operations across Southern Europe, with responsibility for accelerating growth, strengthening customer partnerships and developing high-performing teams across the region.

“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Cathy Winnepenninckx as Vice President for South Europe,” Ceva said in a statement.

“After successfully leading Ceva Canada, Cathy brings a proven record of driving growth and building outstanding teams.”

The company added that her leadership and experience would support the continued development of its Southern European business while contributing to broader strategic objectives across the organisation.

Former MSD executive brings extensive animal health experience

Winnepenninckx brings more than two decades of experience across animal health, healthcare and commercial leadership roles.

Before joining Ceva, she served as General Manager of Animal Health Benelux at MSD Animal Health from 2019 to 2024, overseeing operations in Belgium, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.

Her tenure at MSD coincided with a period of continued innovation and expansion within the global animal health industry, particularly in livestock health, companion animal care and digital livestock management solutions.

Prior to MSD, she held a series of senior leadership positions at Ecolab, including Market Director for Healthcare across the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and the Benelux region. 

Strategic region for livestock and animal health markets

Southern Europe represents an important market for the animal health sector, with significant poultry, swine, dairy, and companion animal industries across countries such as Spain, Portugal, Italy, and Greece.

The region is also increasingly focused on animal disease prevention, sustainable livestock production and improving productivity through vaccination, biosecurity and technology-driven health solutions.

As one of the world’s largest animal health companies, Ceva has continued to invest in vaccines, pharmaceuticals, and preventive health solutions for both livestock and companion animals, while expanding its presence in strategic global markets.

The appointment of Winnepenninckx reflects the company’s focus on strengthening regional leadership capabilities as competition intensifies among major animal health companies seeking growth opportunities across Europe and other international markets.

Her combination of experience at both Ceva and MSD Animal Health is expected to support the company’s efforts to deepen customer relationships and accelerate business development across Southern Europe’s diverse animal production sectors.

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