Dennis L. Erpelding
SENIOR ADVISOR
Dennis is based the US and Thailand. He has broad experience formulating strategy and policies in the legislative, regulatory, food chain and scientific areas, including helping to shape laws, regulations and policies in the Americas, Asia and the European Union.
He retired from Elanco, a division of Eli Lilly and Company after over 28 years. In Elanco, his last position was Director of International Food Safety Standards and Policy where he led the company’s global strategy to advance food safety standards for its products. He was on the Asia Pacific market access team, leading efforts for Greater China, Japan and South Korea, and on the global scientific affairs and policy team that oversaw and coordinated the strategic direction for activities worldwide. Prior to that, he held positions in market development, public information, industry affairs, marketing, government relations, poultry products sales management, and global corporate affairs / global market access management.
He has worked extensively with governments, international organisations and food chain stakeholders in the Asia Pacific, the Americas, Europe and Africa addressing food security needs and food safety objectives with a focus on key issues relevant to the animal health industry such as market access, trade, food safety standards, antibiotic resistance, biotechnology and new product introductions. He has been extensively involved in Codex Alimentarius Commission activities and international standards setting work. From 2009 August through 2010 December, he was based in Beijing, P.R. China focused on building Elanco’s strategic corporate affairs and business capabilities.
A native of Whittemore, Iowa, U.S.A., he was raised on a diversified livestock and crop farm. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Dairy Science from Iowa State University in 1981 and in 1989 he earned a Master of Business Administration degree from The Ohio State University.
From 1981 to 1987 Erpelding worked in the U.S. dairy industry, employed by the American Jersey Cattle Club and National All-Jersey, Inc., advocating for genetic improvement programs and component milk pricing. He currently resides in Thailand and the United States of America.