HR alert: leadership shake-up continues across the industry this summer

Several top roles have changed hands in the pet sector over the past month. Following a wave of appointments in June, GlobalPETS takes a look at the latest leadership changes across the industry.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Hill’s Pet Nutrition, a subsidiary of Colgate-Palmolive (CP), welcomed Yvonne Hsu as its new president on 1 July. She was also elected a Corporate Officer by the CP’s Board of Directors. Hsu succeeds John Hazlin, who transitioned to the corporation’s Chief Growth Officer.

Formerly the company’s executive vice president for Global Growth & Innovation, she joined CP in 2000 and progressed through a series of roles and categories within the company.

Hill’s Pet Nutrition produces pet food formulas under the Prescription Diet and Science Diet brand names for cats and dogs.

Virbac

French veterinary pharmaceutical group Virbac has appointed Paul Martingell as its new CEO effective 1 September.

Martingell is currently Senior Vice President and Region Head for Europe and Latin America at Opella, a French pharmaceutical company established in April 2025 as a spinoff of Sanofi’s former Consumer Healthcare division.

In 2024, Virbac reported sales of approximately €1.4 billion ($1.51B), with the companion animal segment accounting for 62% and the farm animal segment comprising the remaining 38%.

Stella & Chewy’s

US freeze-dried pet food manufacturer Stella & Chewy’s announced the appointment of Jay Thompson as the company’s new CEO.

Thompson previously served as the CEO of Generous Brands, a beverage company. At Stella & Chewy’s, he will focus on expanding the company’s product line and reach as well as strengthening relationships with existing customers and pet owners.

The Wisconsin-based player offers a range of freeze-dried products for both dogs and cats, including patties and meal mixers, frozen patties and morsels, raw-coated kibble, stews, broths and treats.

i-Tail Corporation

Tin Shu Chan is the new CEO at Thai pet food co-manufacturer i-Tail Corporation. The Bangkok-based company says the move is part of a planned succession process that supports its long-term strategic direction.

Chan spent nearly 30 years with Thai Union Group, i-Tail’s parent company, holding several leadership roles across sales and supply chain management.

Former CEO Pichitchai Wongpiya assumed the role of advisor to the CEO, a position he will hold until his planned retirement at the end of this year. 

i-Tail reported ฿4.3 billion ($116M/€99.3M) in sales for the first quarter of 2025, up 5.5% from a year earlier, driven by demand from key customers and global brands, especially in the US market.

Wellness Pet Company

Massachusetts-based pet food brand Wellness Pet Company has appointed Jim Scott as Chief Supply Chain Officer and member of the executive leadership team.

Scott will oversee the end-to-end supply chain strategy, strengthen the operations team and improve service for pet owners through data-driven execution and process improvements.

Prior to his appointment, Scott served as Vice President of Operations and Supply Chain for the United States at Maple Leaf Foods, which produces consumer-packaged meats and other food items.

IndePet

Melbourne-based pet store chain IndePet has named Serge Virlombier as its new CEO.

Virlombier is the former CEO of pet retailer Best Friends Pets, which was renamed in 2024. He also held senior roles across operations, sales and marketing in both B2B and B2C environments.

IndePet was founded in 2010 by 9 independent pet retailers in Australia and New Zealand. It now supports more than 40 locally owned pet stores across both countries.