Dr. Karen Padgett
Chief Operations Officer, Companion AnimalCeva Animal Health, LLC
As COO of Ceva’s Companion Animal Group, Dr. Padgett oversees the sales, marketing, veterinary services and operations teams for Ceva Animal Health from the North America headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas.
Karen’s leadership in forming integrated teams of research, academic affairs, scientific affairs, marketing and technical services has consistently led to delivering products and programs to help the practicing veterinarian succeed. She is a 28-year veteran of the animal health industry, most of which has been spent in leadership roles at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a division of Colgate-Palmolive.
As Chief of the Hill’s Veterinary Business Channel, North America, Karen chaired an internal Global Veterinary Leadership Council. Karen has also been recognized for her business leadership externally and is the recipient of the YWCA New York’s Salute to Women Leadership Award.
Karen gained practical veterinary experience as an associate veterinarian at Caudle Veterinary Hospital, Charlotte, North Carolina. She received her Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens Georgia and received her Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Georgia School of Agriculture.
Karen lives in Topeka, Kansas with her husband Bill and their children Sarah and Michael and their very spoiled whippet Sienna.