HR alert: Pet players announce new leadership changes

Pet players in the United States, Canada and Australia have recently announced new executive appointments.

Pet Circle

Alistair Venn is the new Chief Executive Officer at Australian online pet retailer Pet Circle. 

He will succeed current CEO and co-founder Mike Frizell, who will transition to Chairman of the Board after 14 years in the position. 

Venn joined Pet Circle in February after 4 years leading key divisions in the e-commerce unit of retail conglomerate Woolworths.  

Founded in 2011, Pet Circle serves 700,000 customers across Australia. The company has recently invested in personalization, automation and supply chain capabilities to enable next-day delivery and improve e-commerce and operational efficiency.

Pet Valu

Canadian pet retailer Pet Valu welcomed its current president and COO, Greg Ramier, as its new Chief Executive Officer starting 21 September 2025.

Ramier will succeed Richard Maltsberger, who will be transitioning to a Senior Advisor until his retirement on 4 April 2026.

Since August 2024, Ramier has been Pet Valu’s president and COO. Before his tenure, he held senior executive positions at Canadian retail player Loblaw Companies Limited for over 2 decades. 

“It’s a real honor to step into the CEO role, and I’m excited to carry the momentum forward as we continue to grow, innovate and deliver great experiences for our devoted pet lovers, our franchisees and our ACEs,” says Ramier. 

Jinx

LA-based dog wellness player Jinx announced the appointment of Kyle Banahan as its new CEO and Graeme Fleckney as its new CFO. This move is part of its growth strategy following plans for a Series C funding round.

“Many brands are seeing headwinds in today’s market,” says Banahan. “What sets Jinx apart is our relentless commitment to the long-term health of pets and the evolving needs of their owners. We’re not chasing trends; we’re building enduring trust.”

Jinx was founded in 2020 by former Casper executives. It currently has a retail footprint at Publix, Tractor Supply Co. and PetSmart, reaching over 10,000 retail doors, including existing partnerships at Walmart, Target, Chewy, Whole Foods Market and more. It expects to launch new products later this year.

Post Holdings

American food manufacturer Post Holdings appointed Nicolas Catoggio as its new Chief Operating Officer, which will follow the retirement of Jeff Zadoks in January 2026.

Catoggio joined the company after a 14-year tenure as a consultant. At Post Holdings, he was head of the Post Consumer Brands segment, which included pet food.

As COO, he will continue to oversee the same segment until a new CEO for the division is named. “Nico is a strategic leader who has led Post Consumer Brands’ growth from a ready-to-eat cereal company to a multi-category organization,” says Post Holdings CEO Rob Vitale.

PetSmart

Jessica Duarte is the new Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer at US pet retailer PetSmart 

Duarte has over 30 years of experience across the retail, grocery, beauty and food and beverage industries. Prior to her appointment, she was with Walmart for 12 years, where she held various leadership roles.

“This is an exciting time at PetSmart, and I’m thrilled to be joining this impressive team at such a pivotal time in the business,” she says.“ PetSmart has such a special and unique community of associates, pet parents and pets who all share the same passion, and I’m looking forward to being a part of that.”

PetMed Express

After CEO Sandra Campos and CFO Robyn D’Elia resigned, online pharmacy retailer PetMed Express named Board Chair Leslie Campbell interim CEO and Chief Accounting Officer Douglas Krulik interim Principal Financial Officer.

The company is currently in search of a replacement CEO and CFO.

PetMeds is licensed in all 50 U.S. states. Through its PETS family of brands, the company offers pet health solutions, including brand-name and generic drugs, compounded medications and over-the-counter supplements and nutrition products.

Alphia

North American pet food manufacturer Alphia has named Miguel Nistal as interim CEO following the retirement of David McLain. 

Nistal, who brings over 25 years of consumer and industrial sector experience, previously served on Alphia’s board. Currently, he is a senior advisor at Pai Partners, where he counsels consumer portfolio companies on operational improvements.

His executive background includes CEO roles at Woodstream, which makes and markets pest and animal control products, bird feeders and lawn and garden solution; Swan Products, which specializes in lawn and garden watering products; the manufacturer and distributor of home fitness equipment, Keys Fitness; and nearly 11 years at Stanley, Black & Decker, where he most recently led the Hardware division as President.

“Together, the Alphia team has built a resilient and innovative company that helps our partners deliver safe, delicious options to pet families across the country,” says McLain.

Ollie

American pet wellness brand Ollie has named Allison Stadd as its new Chief Marketing Officer. She will lead the company’s brand and marketing operations, including growth, lifecycle, creative, insights and customer service.

Stadd will report to Ollie’s CEO, Nick Stafford. Prior to this appointment, she was Senior Vice President of brand, culture and media at same-day delivery company Shipt, a Target subsidiary. She also held various roles at restaurant chains Shake Shack and Sweetgreen, subscription service BarkBox, and beverage manufacturer Stella Artois.