HR alert: Latest executive shifts in the pet sector

The pet industry is undergoing a wave of leadership changes as companies adapt to evolving market demands and growth strategies.

From regional restructures to new executive appointments – and even a notable retirement – GlobalPETS rounds up the latest C-level HR developments.

Musti

Nordic pet retailer Musti Group has made some changes to its senior management line-up.

The current Head of Norway, Erik Ringen Skjærstad, will leave in August to pursue opportunities outside the company and will be succeeded by Daniel Pettersson, Country Manager for Finland and Sweden, who will also take responsibility for Musti Norge and the Baltics from August.

The changes come as Musti aims to strengthen its market dominance in the region. The group’s total store count is 414 locations, 352 of which are in Finland, Sweden and Norway.

The group reported net sales of €119.8 million ($135.8M) in the first quarter of 2025, representing an 11.8% year-over-year (YoY) increase.

Maxi Zoo Belgium

Fressnapf Group’s Maxi Zoo Belgium has welcomed Giane Van Landuyt as its new Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director.

She was formerly CEO at retailer Beliving and an executive at Casa International and succeeds François Valdivieso.

Over the past 6 years, the pet retailer expanded its store network from 44 to nearly 80 locations and launched a webshop.

The company has pursued steady growth through both physical store expansion and digital development, aligning with Fressnapf’s broader “Best Partners” strategy to strengthen its European footprint.

BrightPet

BrightPet Nutrition Group, a major manufacturer of premium and natural pet food, has confirmed the appointment of Michael Krueger as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Krueger has served as interim CEO for the company since November 2024 and will continue to focus on expanding BrightPet’s market reach, enhancing production capacity and driving sustainable growth.

BrightPet has also appointed former Red Collar Pet Foods CEO Chris Hamilton as its Executive Chairman.

Based in the U.S., BrightPet Nutrition Group produces both branded and private-label pet food across multiple formats, including kibble, canned and freeze-dried products.

The company operates manufacturing facilities in Ohio and South Dakota and owns several pet food brands, including Blackwood, Adirondack and By Nature.

Nestlé

The Swiss multinational confirmed that Paul Bulcke, who has served in the group for nearly five decades, including as CEO (2008–2016) and Chairman since April 2017, will not stand for re-election at the Annual General Meeting on 16 April 2026.

Instead, the Board plans to propose the current Vice Chairman, Pablo Isla, former CEO of the Spanish apparel company Inditex, as his successor.

Isla, who joined the Board in 2018 and became Vice‑Chairman in 2024, brings international executive experience.

Rover

Pet services platform Rover has officially transitioned its leadership to Brent Turner, with Founder Aaron Easterly stepping down as CEO.

Turner, formerly the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer (COO), assumes the role of Chief Executive. This move, part of a planned succession strategy, positions Turner to steer Rover through its next phase of expansion as the company continues to scale its offerings in pet sitting, boarding and walking services.

“I am honored to lead Rover and its amazing team in this next phase. We have over a billion dollars in annual sales, are now operating in 16 countries, have added new service lines to the marketplace and are effectively using M&A as an additional growth lever,” says Turner.

Easterly has led Rover as CEO since 2011 and will transition to Executive Chair of the Board.

Founded in Seattle in 2011, Rover is one of the largest online marketplaces for pet care services. The company went public in 2021 through a SPAC merger and has since expanded its offerings beyond dog walking and pet sitting to include services such as drop-in visits, grooming and veterinary consultation partnerships.