HR alert: leadership updates in the pet industry this autumn

Pet industry players in the US, Europe and Australia have welcomed a fresh roster of new executive leaders in September and October to support operations and footprint expansion.

Freshpet

US pet food company Freshpet has appointed its VP for Finance, Ivan Garcia, as interim Chief Financial Officer (CFO), effective 17 October, as the company searches for a permanent successor following the departure of ex-CFO Todd Cunfer.

Garcia has been Freshpet’s VP for Finance since July 2023. Before this role, he was the Vice President of Corporate Controller from October 2020 to June 2023. He also held other roles within Freshpet’s finance department since joining the company prior to its initial public offering (IPO) in February 2014 as Manager of Financial Reporting.

Before joining Freshpet, he was an audit manager at accounting firm KPMG US.

“Ivan is well regarded by the Board and leadership team for his depth of understanding of the Freshpet business model, and we are confident his leadership will ensure a smooth transition as we conduct a search for our next CFO,” says Billy Cyr, Freshpet’s CEO.

“Having joined Freshpet 11 years ago, Ivan has been responsible for a wide range of critical projects. His sharp financial acumen has served the company well over the years as he continues to provide the fiscal discipline required for our high-growth company.”

Hill’s Pet Nutrition

Colgate-Palmolive-owned pet food company Hill’s Pet Nutrition has named Rauf Gurbuz as President and General Manager for the US from 15 October. He will succeed Yvonne Hsu, who was appointed to the role in the summer. 

Gurbuz will be responsible for leading the US business and accelerating Hill’s leadership position across both the wellness and therapeutic pet food categories. He will also work on strengthening Hill’s long-term support for the veterinary profession.

The new general manager recently served as senior vice president and general manager for Colgate-Palmolive’s Greater Indochina Hub, Asia Pacific Division. This role is part of his 20 years within the company.

“My career at Colgate-Palmolive has been defined by a passion for building brands that make a tangible impact, and I am excited to bring that dedication to Hill’s and our powerful mission to help enrich and lengthen the special relationships between people and their pets,” says Gurbuz.

Ruffwear

The Oregon-based dog performance gear maker appointed Rob Little as its new Brand President on 3 October, succeeding interim president Will Blount, who will stay on as an advisor during the transition.

Little has business experience spanning over two decades. During his career, he co-founded a subscription service that was eventually acquired by Outside, an American media and experience company.

“As someone who grew up in Oregon with a deep love for the outdoors – and who now shares adventures with my family and our two terriers – this opportunity feels like coming home. Ruffwear has built an incredible legacy creating gear that helps dogs and their humans explore the world together, and I’m honored to help lead the brand into its next chapter,” says Little.

Greencross Pet Wellness Company

This Australian pet care company and owner of pet retailer Petbarn has named Garrett Lewis as the new Chief Executive of its vet services business on 1 October.

Lewis was previously the CEO of New York-based vet services firm Bond Vet. Before that role, he served in various roles in VCA, which operates a network of veterinary hospitals across the US.

“Garrett has a proven track record of delivering significant growth in multi-site veterinary businesses.  His extensive executive experience in large international markets and leadership qualities will be invaluable to our team in delivering our exciting growth strategy,” Lucas Barry, CEO of Greencross Pet Wellness Company, says in a LinkedIn post.

Greencross operates over 140 vet clinics, 267 retail stores, including Petbarn and City Farmers in Australia and Animates in New Zealand, as well as 132 grooming salons.

Volare

Benjamin Armenjon is the new Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Volare. The Finnish biotech company also named Antti Åke as Chief Operating Officer (COO) to boost leadership as the firm scales to full industrial production.

The new appointments follow Volare’s recent €26 million funding round, which is being used to construct its first large-scale protein production facility, Volare 01. 

Armenjon has over 10 years of experience in insect-based ingredients. Prior to his appointment, he was COO at Ÿnsect, a French insect protein company. As CCO at Volare, he will lead commercial strategy, global partnerships, and customer-focused growth.

Åke was previously the CEO of WasteWise Group, a waste processing solutions company. He also led international teams across Europe and Asia for German pharmaceutical company Bayer and German chemical company Covestro.

CEO Jarna Hyvönen says that the company is entering the next phase, “from proven demand to industrial.”

“Benjamin brings a decade of global insect protein experience and Antti brings deep know-how in running industrial facilities,” she says. 

Vetopia

Danish veterinary group Vetopia appointed Ben Hanning MRCVS as its UK CEO to lead expansion in the country on 29 September. The company plans to introduce a new UK-specific brand under its umbrella in the coming months.

Hanning brings an extensive background spanning veterinary care, operational leadership and multi-site management. He started his career in clinical practice and has spent the past decade building and leading organizations across the veterinary and dental sectors.

“Vetopia’s UK launch is about creating a new way forward: empowering vets to focus on exceptional care while giving them the support, resources and ownership opportunities that they deserve,” says Hanning.

Vetopia is a group of over 200 veterinary clinics offering specialized and emergency veterinary care services for small animals and horses.

Croci-Camon Group

Croci-Camon, an Italian pet care manufacturer and distributor, announced the appointment of Francesco Iovine as the new CEO on 26 September.

Iovine has extensive experience in the retail sector with Gruppo Pam, a supermarket operator; Salmoiraghi & Viganò, an eyewear and contact lens retailer, and Ecornaturasì, a producer and distributor of organic and biodynamic products.

“We are confident that Francesco’s experience and managerial skills will enable the Group to successfully complete the integration and establish itself as one of the leading European players in the pet care and aquarium sector,” says Andrea Tuccio, Managing Partner of Mindful Capital Partners, Croci Group’s main shareholder.

Mars

Mars has named Melodie Nye as Managing Director and General Manager of its Pet Nutrition division across Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), on 18 September.

As head of the Pet Nutrition division in ANZ, Nye will be based in Melbourne and will lead the regional business innovation to serve the evolving needs of pet parents.

Nye has been with Mars since 2013, serving in various roles, including as Chief Growth Officer for Mars Petcare Europe.