RITA CALADO SILVA
Aimargues,France
Summary
Senior veterinary leader with 20+ years of experience across clinical practice, scientific leadership, operations, and corporate affairs within international veterinary and pet health organizations. Currently holding a Senior Scientific Communications leadership role within the Functional Complements (FC) business, operating at the intersection of medical strategy, evidence generation, and cross-functional execution in a newly created, high-growth category (supplements & treats). Recognized for combining strong medical credibility (DVM) with strategic influence, operational rigor, and people leadership, with a clear ambition to progress toward senior leadership opportunities within pharmaceutical, veterinary and healthcare organizations where i can continue to contribute to medical excellence, strategic transformation, and sustainable growth, while further developing my international leadership journey.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work history
Senior Scientific Communications Manager - Functional Complements (FC)
Royal Canin - Mars Petcare
03.2025 - 01.2026
- Define and lead the global scientific communications strategy for Functional Complements, ensuring medical credibility and veterinary endorsement in a fastgrowing category.
- Act as a medical and scientific reference for internal teams (Marketing, R&D, Health Affairs, Regulatory, Markets) and external veterinary stakeholders.
- Lead evidence-based storytelling, translating complex science into clear, compliant, and impactful veterinary-relevant messages.
- Design and implement veterinary field performance studies, including: Definition of study frameworks and governance, Coordination with R&D, Health Affairs, Vet Directors, and Corporate Affairs, Support to local markets for execution and data collection.
- Develop operational standards and tools to ensure consistency, quality, and scalability of scientific communications and evidence generation.
- Prepare and deliver internal training programs to upskill markets and internal teams on medical, scientific, and clinical topics.
- Contribute to medical risk assessment and decision-making, ensuring alignment with regulatory and scientific requirements.
- Positioned Royal Canin Functional Complements as a credible, science-driven offer for veterinarians, strengthened trust with internal and external stakeholders, and built the foundations for scalable medical governance in a new category.
Corporate Affairs Europe - Veterinary Field Trials Lead
Royal Canin Mars Petcare
10.2024 - 03.2025
- Designed and launched a new European framework for veterinary field performance studies, supporting clinical evidence generation at scale.
- Led the first pilot implementation across local markets, coordinating veterinarians, R&D, Health Affairs, and Vet Directors.
- Developed standardized operational models for data collection, governance, and clinic engagement.
- Acted as central enabler between clinics and corporate functions to ensure scientific rigor, feasibility, and adoption.
- Built and delivered internal training programs for veterinary stakeholders.
- Strengthened clinical credibility, improved alignment between science and practice, and enabled scalable evidence generation.
Corporate Affairs Director - France
Royal Canin Mars Petcare
03.2023 - 03.2025
- Led a team of 12 associates mainly senior technical profiles through 8 direct reports in a highly demand environment (French business is Nb1 for Europe Region).
- Led internal & external communications strategy (B2B & B2C) for France.
- Owned issues & crisis management, ensuring business continuity and reputation protection.
- Directed scientific communications & Regulatory Affairs' teams across veterinarians, breeders, and pet professionals.
- Deployed sustainability strategy and led public affairs agenda (animal welfare, policy topics).
- Acted as senior stakeholder with authorities, professional bodies, and internal leadership.
- Strengthened trust with veterinary stakeholders, improved organizational alignment, and reinforced corporate reputation.
Global Pet Center Manager - R&D Facilities
Royal Canin Mars Petcare
11.2019 - 03.2023
- Led 40 associates through 8 direct reports in a highly regulated operational environment.
- Owned end-to-end operations, including safety, quality, compliance, animal welfare, and performance.
- Delivered R&D innovation programs through complex testing and operational planning.
- Ensured full compliance with Mars standards (QMP, HACCP, animal welfare, sustainability).
- Managed operational and capital budgets and major infrastructure projects.
- Improved operational reliability and compliance, strengthened leadership bench and team engagement, delivered consistent performance under strict regulatory constraints.
Global Scientific Support Specialist - R&D Innovation
Royal Canin Mars Petcare
09.2017 - 11.2019
- Led scientific substantiation and claims strategy for global feline portfolios.
- Defined scientific roadmaps and competitive benchmarks.
- Collaborated with KOLs, R&D, Regulatory Affairs, and Marketing.
- Acted as scientific expert supporting global product launches.
- Elevated scientific robustness of product claims and reinforced medical credibility.
Earlier Roles
Royal Canin Iberia & Portugal - Mars Petcare
11.2011 - 07.2017
- Scientific Communication & Field Training Lead - Iberia
- Veterinary Sales Representative - Portugal
- Built strong relationships with veterinary key accounts.
- Delivered scientific training programs and supported market development.
- Developed strong business acumen and customer-centric mindset.
Veterinary Practitioner - Small Animal Medicine
Vet Clinics & Vet Hospitals
05.2005 - 11.2011
- Clinical practice with focus on feline medicine, imaging, and soft tissue surgery.
- Team training and mentoring.
- Improved pet health with implementation of preventative care plans.
- Diagnosed various animal health conditions by conducting comprehensive examinations.
- Managed emergency situations effectively, ensuring swift response to critical cases.
Education
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine -
FMV-UTL
Lisbon 10/1999 - 03/2005
Master - Sales & Marketing
ISCTE Business School
09/2016 - 06/2017
Executive Leadership - GLM & WLP Leading with Purpose
Mars University
Skills
- Medical & Scientific Leadership (Veterinary)
- Clinical Evidence Strategy & Field Studies
- Operational Excellence & Governance
- Change Management & Capability Building
- People Leadership & Team Development
- International & Cross-functional Leadership
- Innovation creativity
Websites
Personal Information
Title: Senior Scientific & Medical Leader | Veterinary Operations & Strategy
Languages
English
Fluent
French
Advanced
Portuguese
Native
Spanish
Elementary
Timeline
Senior Scientific Communications Manager - Functional Complements (FC)
Royal Canin - Mars Petcare
03.2025 - 01.2026
Corporate Affairs Europe - Veterinary Field Trials Lead
Royal Canin Mars Petcare
10.2024 - 03.2025
Corporate Affairs Director - France
Royal Canin Mars Petcare
03.2023 - 03.2025
Global Pet Center Manager - R&D Facilities
Royal Canin Mars Petcare
11.2019 - 03.2023
Global Scientific Support Specialist - R&D Innovation
Royal Canin Mars Petcare
09.2017 - 11.2019
Earlier Roles
Royal Canin Iberia & Portugal - Mars Petcare
11.2011 - 07.2017
Veterinary Practitioner - Small Animal Medicine
Vet Clinics & Vet Hospitals
05.2005 - 11.2011
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine -
FMV-UTL
10/1999 - 03/2005
Master - Sales & Marketing
ISCTE Business School
09/2016 - 06/2017
Executive Leadership - GLM & WLP Leading with Purpose
Mars University