HR alert: latest leadership updates in the pet industry
Companies like Hill’s, Mars, Schecker and Wag’n Tails have appointed new executives in the past few weeks.
It’s spring cleaning for some pet companies as corporations bring on new leaders. GlobalPETS has the latest.
New veterinary leadership at Hill’s
Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a division of Colgate-Palmolive, has appointed a new Chief Veterinary Officer for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Karen Shanoy, currently the CVO at Hill’s US, will take over from Hein Meyer, who is retiring. The region is a growing segment for the Colgate-Palmolive subsidiary.
Shanoy will relocate to Colgate’s office in Basel, Switzerland, for the new role. “I’m really looking forward to immersing myself in the EMEA business and connecting with veterinary professionals all across the region,” she says in a LinkedIn post.
Chelsie Estey, the current Vice President of US pet care at Parnell Veterinary Pharmaceuticals, will replace Shanoy as US CVO at Hill’s.
Mars adds new faces in Asia Pacific and Europe
Like its competitors at Colgate, US company Mars Petcare has brought in new leadership for its segments abroad. Deri Watkins, a longtime Mars employee, will serve as its new Regional President for Pet Nutrition in Developed Asia Pacific. Paolo Rigamonti, who previously led Mars Petcare’s operations in the UK, Ireland and the Nordics, will become the new Regional President for Pet Nutrition Europe.
Wag’n Tails CEO switch
US mobile pet grooming company Wag’n Tails parted ways with its longtime CEO Dennis Gnetz, who retired in March. Former Chief Growth Officer Josh White assumed the CEO role on 1 March.
“I am honored to follow in Dennis’s footsteps and lead Wag’n Tails into the next phase of innovation and growth,” White says. “We will continue to build on the legacy of quality, customer service, and industry leadership that has defined the company for decades.”
Shake-up at Schecker
Longtime Managing Director Heinrich Böden has left his position at Schecker, a German e-commerce pet supply company. It is one of many small, legacy e-commerce companies serving pet owners in Germany. Now, two new leaders, Vicki Janssen and Ralf Bents, will take over the company’s management.
The company says Janssen would bring expertise in digitalization, while Bents has significant experience with logistics. “Together, they will lead the company into a new era and continue Schecker’s success story – even in challenging times,” the company says on LinkedIn.
New at NORPEL
Northern Pelagic Group (NORPEL) appointed longtime industry executive Andre Minnaar as its new Vice President of Innovation and Quality. The New Bedford, Massachusetts, company converts seafood products into protein for pet food.
The company has seen significant growth in recent years due to increased pet food demand.
Minaar was the VP of Quality and Regulatory at Zesty Paws from 2022. “I enjoyed my time at Zesty Paws and worked with a great team locally and globally,” he says on LinkedIn. He previously spent 12 years at Canadian pet food manufacturer Champion Pet Foods.
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