In our journey we visited many faces with our
poultry industry legends.
and one among them is Dr. Arun Atrey, Managing Director and CEO, Zenex Animal Health
1. Are you originally from Ahmedabad?
I am originally from Punjab but since 1985, Ahmedabad has been my home and karma bhoomi.
2. What is the best thing you like in your journey?
After obtaining a degree in Veterinary and MBA, I joined the FMCG Industry. It offered me limited opportunities to utilize my veterinary knowledge. Therefore, I decided to move to the pharma sector and joined Cadila.
My eagerness to learn, contribute and take new initiatives was well noticed and appreciated by the Cadila management. In the 2nd year of my association, I was entrusted with the responsibility to head the animal health business of the organization. Then, I was in my 20s and this opportunity steered my professional growth and helped me to reach where I am today.
There have been number of other high points in my career like playing an instrumental role in entering a Joint Venture with Sarabhai, acquiring a part business of Zoetis and managing an overseas subsidiary in Germany.
3. What is the right motivation you like in the journey from starting till now?
I am very passionate about achieving the personal and professional goals which I set for myself. I keep challenging myself and always try to attain perfection while accomplishing them. Ably supported by my team, it is the vision and foresightedness which enables me to move ahead.
4. Why did you choose the Poultry / Livestock profession?
It can be summarized as: MNC, Jeep and Veterinary Science.
It is not accidental that I am an animal health professional. My childhood dream led me to pursue this. During my early school days, I used to watch young men from a large MNC dairy company driving jeep in my town. That caught my imagination, and I was curious. On enquiring, I knew that these young men were veterinarians who were provided jeep for their field work. With the fascination towards the jeep, I decided to pursue the veterinary profession. During my final year, somehow, I was intrigued to learn management studies and completed MBA as well. In those days, I was amongst a few veterinarians who also had a management degree. This rare combination of educational qualification aided me to gradually build an animal health Company from scratch and today, I head one of the India’s largest animal health Company.
5. As compared to other big players in the industry, how do you feel your organization is different?
With a rich legacy of seven decades in serving animal health needs, Zenex Animal Health is one of the leading Indian animal health Companies. Today, Zenex is uniquely positioned to offer a comprehensive range of solutions including herbal products, addressing the evolving customer needs. The organization has to its credit the introduction of one of the highest numbers of innovative & first-to-the-market products. Zenex Animal Health has also developed a first ever novel strain for probiotic use in poultry. The Company has two state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities and an in-house R&D set-up.
As a responsible science driven animal health Company, Zenex Animal Health firmly believes in spreading awareness about improving animal health practices to contain antimicrobial resistance. The Company has initiated a training program for veterinarians and small & marginal livestock farmers in India and its neighboring countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, under the project sponsored and guided by Asian Development Bank. ESG (Environment, Social and Governance) has also become an integral part of our business and is practiced in line with an ESG policy.
For its creditable contribution to the farming community, Zenex Animal Health had received many national and international recognitions including “The best animal health company in India, Africa & Middle East” for the year 2015, 2016 and 2018 by world’s leading pharma news publication Animal Pharm, UK. Last year, Zenex Animal Health was recognized as the ‘Best company in the Rest of the World 2023’ by S&P Global.
6. Please tell us about your family.
I was encouraged to grow up with a very liberal outlook in my growing years. My parents were in teaching profession and so is my spouse. I am blessed with two daughters who are also well settled in different professions.
7. What do you think about your organization roadmap for the next 5 years?
Zenex Animal Health will soon cement its position as the leader in the animal health industry with its comprehensive solutions. The recent acquisition of Ayurvet and the launch of a dedicated Companion Care division, Pawphilia is a testament to Zenex’s aspiration to provide comprehensive and holistic solutions in the animal health segment, to meet the evolving needs of its customers in India and abroad.
Ayurvet is a research driven organization and a pioneer of manufacturing 100% natural & safe herbal animal health care products. It has to its credit over 750 research studies published in well acclaimed national and international publications. All the products of Ayurvet are manufactured in-house adhering to stringent quality standards.
Further, the increasing size of Indian pet market provides immense opportunity to Pawphilia division to become amongst the top revenue contributors for the organization. Its wide range of products include unique international brands for the pet lovers in India.
With a focused approach, currently, the Company exports to over 30 countries and continues to expand its reach and influence globally.
The organization has evolved in today’s ever-changing and complex era. The use of technology will be key to grasping the opportunities available in the forthcoming years. We have appropriately integrated digital marketing in our overall marketing strategy.
The right boxes have been ticked and the growth accelerator has been pressed. I am sure that with a rich past, Zenex Animal Health is going to have an Exciting Future.
8. What is your message to the next generation entered in this business?
The first and most fundamental aspect of being successful is to be passionate about whatever you do. The animal health business is not just a marketing business, but to me, it is largely a science driven industry. What we deliver is science. If we understand and inculcate this core value, we will enjoy the profession.
During my initial days in the veterinary profession, I used to travel 18-20 days in a month. I had minimal field experience, so I used to go and work with the representatives in the field. It was important because those interactions made me aware of the problems and challenges faced by the first line officers in the field. In a marketing organization ‘the field’ is paramount. A Company’s reputation is created in the field – it is they who are the face of the organization for your customers and stakeholders. So, it’s important to invest time and get this important connection right! It is where the best ideas come from. So, it’s important to be connected to grassroot level.
As you grow up professionally, it’s equally important to contribute for the benefit of the industry as well. Being in the animal health Industry, it’s our responsibility to ensure safe food while we work on improving the animal productivity. We are an equal partner in ensuring ‘One Health’ and should keep contributing towards the approach.
9. What is your favorite eatery food?
A simple meal makes me happy.
10. What are your hobbies?
I enjoy reading and cycling. In 2021, I met with a near fatal accident and had to give up the latter.
11. Any remarks you would like to add?
God has been very kind to me, and I believe in giving back to society in whatever form I can.
