Ceva Splits Leadership, Taps Rival CEO for Aggressive Growth Push

LIBOURNE, France – April 10, 2026 – Ceva Animal Health, the world's fifth-largest animal health company, has initiated a significant overhaul of its governance structure by appointing Sébastien Huron as its new Deputy Chief Executive Officer. The move, effective immediately, establishes a dual leadership model, with long-serving CEO Marc Prikazsky transitioning to the role of Executive Chairman. This strategic restructuring is designed to sharpen the company's focus on both long-term vision and day-to-day operational power, positioning Ceva for an accelerated phase of development in a rapidly expanding global market.

Under the new framework, Prikazsky will steer Ceva's long-range agenda, while Huron, a highly regarded industry veteran poached from competitor Virbac, will take the helm of the Group's operational management and chair the Executive Committee. The appointment signals a deliberate effort by the majority management-owned company to bolster its competitive stance and scale its operations to meet future challenges.

A Strategic Split for a New Era of Growth

The decision to bifurcate the top leadership role reflects a growing trend in complex global industries, where the sheer scale of operations and the pace of change demand specialized executive focus. By separating the strategic and operational functions, Ceva aims to ensure that neither long-term innovation nor immediate market execution is compromised. As Executive Chairman, Marc Prikazsky will concentrate on high-level priorities, including nurturing investor relations, spearheading customer-centric innovation, cultivating the next generation of leaders, and positioning Ceva at the forefront of solutions for major global health challenges.

This evolution allows Prikazsky to leverage his deep institutional knowledge to guide the company's overarching direction, while empowering a new leader to drive performance on the ground. The structure is intended to create a synergistic partnership at the top, ensuring continuity and agility simultaneously.

"This governance evolution reflects the scale Ceva has reached and our ambition to reinforce both strategic focus and operational excellence," Marc Prikazsky commented in the official announcement. "I am delighted to welcome Sébastien, whose experience, global outlook and deeply human leadership will be key assets. I have full confidence in his ability to lead our teams with ambition, courage and pragmatism. Sébastien and I will work closely to ensure continuity while accelerating Ceva's next phase of development."

The Huron Effect: A Proven Architect of Growth

Sébastien Huron is not just a new executive; he is a strategic acquisition for Ceva. His most recent role was as CEO of Virbac, another major French animal health company, a position he held from 2017 to 2024. During his tenure, he was widely credited with steering Virbac through a period of "record organic growth," a track record that Ceva is undoubtedly keen to replicate.

A veterinarian by training from the National Veterinary School of Toulouse, Huron's 30-year career is a map of the global animal health industry. He has held senior leadership roles on multiple continents, starting at Mars Inc. in France before moving to Brazil with Roussel-Uclaf / Hoechst Roussel Vet. He later relocated to the United States with Intervet (now part of Merck Animal Health) before returning to Europe to join Virbac. This extensive international experience has given him deep expertise across strategy, marketing, R&D, and industrial operations.

His appointment is particularly significant given Ceva's current market position. While the company is a dominant force in the poultry sector with a global biopharma market share of around 19%, it remains a smaller, niche player in other key segments, holding an estimated 4% share in swine and 3% each in ruminants and companion animals. Huron's proven ability to drive organic growth will be critical as Ceva seeks to expand its footprint in these highly competitive areas.

Reflecting on his new role, Huron stated, "I am honored to join Ceva at a moment when the company has an exceptional strategic foundation and a strong culture of innovation. I have always admired the entrepreneurial spirit and passion of Ceva's teams. My priority will be to support them with energy, experience and an entrepreneurial mindset so that, together, we can accelerate the Group's development and continue to deliver meaningful value for our customers and partners worldwide."

Prikazsky's Vision: Steering Ceva Through Global Challenges

With Huron managing the operational engine, Marc Prikazsky's transition to Executive Chairman allows him to focus on the broader ecosystem in which Ceva operates. His mandate to address "major global challenges" directly aligns with the company's long-standing "One Health" vision, which acknowledges the profound interconnection between animal, human, and environmental health.

This philosophy is more than a corporate slogan; it is embedded in Ceva's business strategy. The company invests approximately 10% of its turnover—which reached €1.77 billion in 2024—back into Research & Development. A significant portion of this investment is directed toward preventive medicine, with vaccines constituting over half of Ceva's product portfolio. This focus is a direct response to global threats like antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and zoonotic diseases, which are transmissible from animals to humans. By preventing disease in animals, Ceva aims to reduce the need for antibiotics and safeguard both food security and public health.

Recent innovations underscore this commitment. In 2024, Ceva was selected by the French government to supply avian flu vaccines for ducks and launched Hepizovac, a vaccine against Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) in ruminants. This dedication to science-led solutions is central to Prikazsky's forward-looking agenda.

Navigating a Competitive Landscape

Ceva's leadership restructuring comes at a pivotal time for the animal health industry. The global market, valued at approximately $48 billion in 2023, is on a steep growth trajectory, with projections suggesting it could surpass $68 billion by 2029, fueled by rising pet ownership, increasing demand for animal protein, and a heightened awareness of animal-borne diseases.

This growth has created a fiercely competitive environment dominated by giants like Zoetis, which reported revenues of $9.3 billion for 2024, and Elanco, with revenues of $4.4 billion. For Ceva, with a projected 2025 turnover of €1.92 billion, competing effectively requires not only innovative products but also exceptional operational agility and strategic clarity. The new dual leadership structure is Ceva's answer to this challenge.

By installing a proven operational leader in Sébastien Huron and freeing Marc Prikazsky to navigate the complex strategic landscape, Ceva is fortifying its position from the top down. The move is a clear declaration of intent to not only maintain its status as a top-five player but to aggressively pursue greater market share and influence in the years ahead. With this redefined governance, Ceva is signaling its ambition to not just participate in the future of animal health, but to actively shape it through a potent combination of long-range vision and decisive operational power.