LEADERSHIP

Zhijie Li, Ph.D. joined Smithfield Foods in July 2025 as General Manager of Smithfield BioScience, where he leads the division’s strategic development and operations. In this role, Dr. Li is responsible for enhancing product innovation, strengthening global and domestic customer partnerships, supporting biopharmaceutical initiatives, and collaborating with WH Group to identify synergies across their pharmaceutical platforms.

With over two decades of expertise in protein biochemistry, Dr. Li has consistently driven scientific innovation and research excellence within the biotechnology sector. His career spans prestigious institutions including the Institute of Biophysics (Beijing, China), Princeton University, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he spearheaded groundbreaking research initiatives. 

Before joining Smithfield, Dr. Li held leadership roles in the CRISPR industry, guiding cross-functional teams in the advancement of gene editing technologies and the optimization of manufacturing processes.

He earned his Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry and Microbiology and his Ph.D. in Structural Biology and Biochemistry from Nankai University in Tianjin, China.

Ying Yang was named general manager for Smithfield Bioscience in September 2023. In this role, Ying leads the operation in commercializing valuable bioproducts from the animal protein manufacturing process, ultimately saving lives and improving human health worldwide.

Ying joined Smithfield Foods in 2016 supporting Smithfield Bioscience in a business management role leading a variety of projects to optimize and expand Smithfield Bioscience. She brings 29 years of B2B product management, sales, marketing, M&A and manufacturing experience to the business, including 22 years with DuPont Nutrition & Health.

Ying holds a B.A. in International Business from Beijing University of International Business and Economics, China and a MA in Economics from University of Nevada, Reno.

Victoria King assumed the role of senior director, business development for Smithfield Bioscience in April 2025. Prior to this role, Victoria King served as the director, business development for Smithfield Bioscience beginning in October 2023 where she worked in cross functional teams within Smithfield to deliver pharmaceutical raw materials to the world’s leading Pancreatin, Desiccated Thyroid Extract and Corticotrophin API companies that further processed the materials into life-improving and life-saving medications. 

Victoria joined Smithfield Foods in 2016 and progressed through technical quality and management roles, including high precision specifications for raw materials intended for further processing into medical devices. 

Victoria holds a B.S. in Agriculture and Consumer Economics with a concentration in Finance from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and an MBA from the University of Iowa.

Ronald Ipach assumed the role of Senior Director, Pharmaceutical Manufacturing for Smithfield Bioscience in July 2024.  In this role, Ronald leads manufacturing operations to purify porcine derived natural products for finished drug and medical device applications. 

Prior to joining the Smithfield team, Ronald served as the head of manufacturing and plant manager for a prominent medical device company.  In addition, Ronald brings 8 years of pharmaceutical manufacturing experience.

Ronald holds a B.S. in Biology from The Ohio State University.

Jin Xie assumed the role of director, research and development for Smithfield Bioscience in April 2023. In this role, she leads the team in developing generic drug products, medical devices and optimizing the processes of current commercial products in the Smithfield Bioscience portfolio.

Dr. Xie has 15 years of pharmaceutical experience in product development and commercialization as she previously led process improvement projects and served as a subject-matter-expert in one of North America's largest Heparin & Pancreatin API production plants. Dr. Xie also served as the lead scientist on several new biological product development and commercialization projects for the company.

She holds a B.S. in Chemistry from University of Science and Technology of China and a Ph.D. in Chemistry and Chemical Biology from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, New York.

Ronald Tucceri assumed the role of Senior Director, Quality for Smithfield Bioscience in May 2025.  In this role, Ronald leads Quality to ensure that products produced meet or exceed the specifications for release to market. 

Prior to joining the Smithfield team, Ronald served as the Director of Quality for a veterinary medicine company.  In addition, Ronald brings over 25 years of pharmaceutical experience in Quality and Development.

Ronald holds a B.S. in Chemistry and an M.S. in Chemistry from Marshall University.

Terrie Wheeler assumed the role of sales account manager for Smithfield Bioscience is April 2019. In this role, Terrie oversees the logistics and purchasing teams responsible for all customers’ orders and assists with documentation requirements.

Terrie joined Smithfield Bioscience after eight years at the former Celsus Laboratories where she progressed through administrative ranks to office manager.