New board members from Boehringer Ingelheim, Dechra and Elanco bring deep expertise, bold vision to region’s animal health cluster
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – June 11, 2025 – The KC Animal Health Corridor has announced three new additions to its board of directors: Fiona Rey, Elanco Animal Health; Dr. Fatou Sow, Boehringer Ingelheim; and Dr. Jill Stohs, Dechra. Their appointments were formalized during the Corridor’s June 9 board meeting and come at a pivotal moment of momentum for the region’s globally-recognized animal health industry.
With deep industry experience and forward-thinking leadership, the new board members reflect the strength and diversity of the Corridor’s influence — a collective representing the world’s largest concentration of animal health companies.
Fiona Rey, executive director of U.S. customer experience: revenue growth management | launch and marketing ops at Elanco Animal Health, is known for transforming business operations and launching breakthrough products that shape the future of animal health. Since joining Elanco in 2018, Rey has led global product launches, revived critical business units and introduced first-in-class treatments to market.
Dr. Fatou Sow, head of U.S. global innovation & immunology research at Boehringer Ingelheim, brings more than 15 years of experience leading R&D, manufacturing and global partnerships across the animal health industry, driving strategy focused on immune-mediated diseases in companion animals. Sow has held leadership roles at Novartis, Elanco and Boehringer Ingelheim Veterinary Medicine Belgium, and actively supports the development of scientists and emerging industry leaders.
Dr. Jill Stohs, senior director of veterinary professional services & medical affairs at Dechra, brings a career rooted in hands-on veterinary care, technical expertise and medical education. Trained at the University of Missouri’s College of Veterinary Medicine, Stohs now leads a team of more than 40 veterinary professionals across the country. She is a passionate advocate for elevating veterinary science through education, mentorship and service.
“The new additions to our board are bold, strategic thinkers who exemplify the kind of leadership that’s driving the next era of animal health,” said Kimberly Young, president of the KC Animal Health Corridor. “Their perspectives will help ensure the KC Animal Health Corridor remains not just the industry’s largest cluster, but its most dynamic and future-ready.”
The addition of new board leadership comes amid a milestone year for the Corridor, marked by major announcements from global leaders in animal health. Australia-based Ceres Tag selected the KC region for its North American headquarters in January, citing the Corridor’s strength as a hub for innovation. In May, Merck Animal Health announced a nearly $900 million expansion of its De Soto, Kansas, campus — further cementing the region’s role as a driver of global animal health.
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About the KC Animal Health Corridor
Representing more than half of the global animal health industry's sales, and home to over 300 animal health companies, the KC Animal Health Corridor is the largest concentration of its kind worldwide. Anchored by Manhattan, Kansas, and Columbia, Missouri, the Corridor serves as a thriving hub for innovation and collaboration. | kcanimalhealth.com