She joined the company earlier this month and "will be responsible for leading the establishment of an integrated and comprehensive animal wellness program that crosses the company’s pork and poultry operations and interface with its suppliers and other stakeholders".
The program will cover all areas that affect the health and welfare of animals, including nutrition, medication, housing, transportation and processing.
Lynda Kuhn, senior vice-president of sustainability and public affairs, said: "As Canada’s largest meat company, we have a duty to continually advance the humane and ethical treatment of animals within our care."
This included keeping up-to-date with emerging science, processes and technologies that advance the company’s knowledge and capacity, as well as those of its industry partners, in raising, transporting and processing animals in such as manner that optimises health and welfare practices, she added.
Cottee’s most recently held position was provincial programs advisor at Ontario Pork, where she managed the Canadian Quality Assurance and Animal Care Assessment program.