Butler Schein announces retirement of Bravo, Johnson promoted

Butler Schein Animal Health announced the retirement of Fred Bravo, President of Operations, effective March 31, 2011. Tony Johnson, currently Vice President of Sales, will succeed Bravo as Executive Vice President of Operations effective Jan. 1, 2011. After 40 years in the animal health industry, Bravo is retiring to pursue other interests. He has served Butler Schein Animal Health (formerly Butler Animal Health Supply) as the President of Operations since 2005. During his more than 17-year tenure with the company, Bravo has held a variety of positions, including Regional Manager for the Western Region and Vice President of Operations for The Butler Company. He joined The Butler Company through the acquisition of VCA in 1994. Bravo has led the distribution logistics arm of the company, including managing 17 warehouse branches throughout the United States, and built a very strong and effective operations team. Johnson began his career with The Butler Company in 1998 in the warehouse and has held a number of progressively responsible positions within the sales department.

Abaxis expands field sales management team

Abaxis Animal Health Sales and Marketing announced the addition of Kimjera Whittington as Area Sales Manager for the Western Unites States. Kimjera comes to Abaxis from Peerless Surgical, a distributor of medical/surgical devices, where she was Director of Sales. Prior to Peerless, Kimjera worked seven years for Quest Diagnostics, providing executive leadership for a team of corporate managers and sales professionals in the commercial laboratory arena. Abaxis now employees eight Area Sales Managers overseeing 49 Account Managers, who are additionally supported by five field-based veterinarians.

Vétoquinol USA/Tomlyn adds to management team

Vétoquinol USA/Tomlyn announced the addition of Peter Trevino to its management team as Business Unit Manager. Trevino brings over 20 years in sales and marketing experience in both business-to-business and business to consumer environments, including a decade in pet product sales. He will be responsible for the company’s retail/pet specialty channel sales activities. Prior to joining Tomlyn, Trevino was Lead District Manager for Hewlett Packard’s Consumer Electronic division where he was responsible for managing a third-party sales team with over 200 account locations. Trevino’s previous experience also includes over 10 years experience in the animal health industry as Regional Sales Director with Nutro Products.

Midmark and Direct Relief International celebrate milestones in equipment donation programs

Midmark Corporation and Direct Relief International announced milestones in equipment donations. By partnering in a long-term donation program, the organizations have donated more than 3,000 sterilizers and 6,000 exam tables to more than 71 medical facilities in 35 countries. Direct Relief, a California-based nonprofit organization, provides critically needed equipment, supplies and medicines to local healthcare providers worldwide. Assistance programs offered by Direct Relief are tailored to each local partner’s needs and provide healthcare services to people in rural areas where significant health challenges exist. The partnership between Midmark and Direct Relief, which began more than 10 years ago, was created to build the capacity of local healthcare facilities in underserved areas worldwide. Through product promotions, Midmark continues to donate equipment needed for these underserved areas.
“It is truly humbling to partner with Direct Relief in their work to bring much needed medical equipment to people throughout the world,” said Dr. Anne Eiting Klamar, Midmark’s president and CEO. “Direct Relief does more than just provide aid to those in need. They work with local healthcare providers to ensure aid donations are matched to the needs of each community.”

TW Medical Veterinary Supply expands sales force

TW Medical Veterinary Supply announced the addition of eight sales representatives and one sales manager to its growing sales team. The sales representatives, who were previously with PVP, cover territories in the eastern and southeastern portion of the country, marking TW Medical’s first significant expansion into the east. TW Medical now has field representatives covering 15 states. “Last month our 11 newest team members completed our Excellence In Sales & Service training program. This month we have welcomed nine former PVP employees to our team. Our sales team now consists of 23 field and 29 inside sales representatives,” says Mark Ziller, TW Medical’s founder and Lextron’s Vice President for Companion Animal.

Dechra Veterinary announces appointments, acquisition

Dechra Veterinary Products announced two appointments recently. Jack White has been appointed Vice President, Corporate Accounts & Distributor Relations. With an Agriculture Business Degree from Tarleton State University, White brings to Dechra 35 years of experience in the veterinary industry. Previous to joining Dechra, White worked for Dermapet for nine years and was one of the founders of DVM Pharmaceuticals (now Teva Animal Health).
Dena Ware has been named Dechra’s Companion Animal Marketing Manager. With both Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees from Arizona State University, Ware has a background in healthcare and consumer products, but has been part of the animal health industry for the past seven years with special emphasis on dermatology and endocrinology product marketing and management. Previously, Ware worked for Virbac Animal Health as the marketing manager for Virbac’s line of shampoos and other topical treatments, as well as Virbac’s brand of levothyroxine tablets.
Dechra also announced it has completed the acquisition of Dermapet’s worldwide veterinary business. “We are excited to have acquired Dermapet and are extremely motivated to further strengthen our relationships with veterinary dermatologists, corporate hospitals, general practitioners and our distribution partners,” said Mike Eldred, President of U.S. Operations. “Dermapet’s high quality all-natural dermatological product line is a perfect fit with our regulated dermatology products; Animax, Muricin and Vetromax. With additional investment in product development and marketing initiatives, I am confident Dechra will soon be recognized as a leader in the worldwide veterinary dermatology market segment.”

Abbott releases new diabetes study

 In honor of Diabetes Awareness Month, Abbott Animal Health announced the release of its State of Diabetes report. Abbott partnered with other industry leaders, including Boehringer Ingelheim, Nestle Purina PetCare, Pets Best, and Banfield clinics, as well as industry associations like the American Animal Hospital Association, American Veterinary Medical Association and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America to produce this “360 degree view of diabetes” in cats and dogs. Focus points within the report include: information on “pre-diabetes,” clinical signs of the diabetes, a focus on the difference between dogs and cats, and how animals would benefit from earlier diagnoses; information on how diabetes can be managed using insulin and diet, home monitoring, and information on how many veterinarians use home monitoring; and information on how veterinarians can help owners with diabetic pets.