HR alert: Pet players announce new leadership changes

From retail to healthcare, GlobalPETS highlights the latest appointments and departures at major pet players across the world.

Tractor Supply

American retailer Tractor Supply has promoted Brandon Jacobson to Vice President, Divisional Merchandise Manager for its companion animal division.

Prior to this, he was VP for Strategy and Business Development for nearly 3 years.

Jacobson brings over 20 years of retail experience and previously served as Senior Director of e Commerce Strategy and Operations at Sam’s Club, a Walmart-owned membership-only retail chain, before joining Tractor Supply.

REPLOID

Paul van der Raad is the new Director Global Petfood at Austrian biotech firm REPLOID. According to the company, he “will drive the expansion” of their global pet food activities and circular solutions across the entire value chain.

Van der Raad brings nearly 30 years of international experience in the pet industry, with expertise spanning private-label and branded products, as well as global business development at companies such as Protix and Vital Petfood. He also briefly served as CEO of Stockholm- based Petbuddy Group in 2025.

Headquartered in Wels, 200 km from Vienna, the company utilizes black soldier fly larvae to convert organic food and agricultural waste into high-quality proteins, fats and fertilizers.

Ceva Animal Health

Sébastien Huron has been appointed Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Ceva Animal Health, effective immediately. He replaces Marc Prikazsky, who becomes Executive Chairman, after serving as CEO for over 19 years.

Huron brings over 30 years of experience, with expertise across strategy, marketing, research and development (R&D), industrial operations and general management. Prior to joining Ceva, Huron was CEO of Virbac for nearly 7 years.

Ceva is the 5 th -largest animal health company globally, with operations in 47 countries. In 2025, the company recorded a turnover of €1.9 billion ($2.1B).

Pet Circle

The Australian pet retailer has welcomed Andy Morley as Chief Customer Officer (CCO), effective 21 April. Morley will oversee the company’s end-to-end customer strategy, spanning product and experience design to brand and media, with a focus on embedding customer insight into its next phase of growth.

He previously served as Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) for Australia and later for Asia-Pacific (APAC) at Uber, where he spent 10 years leading brand and customer initiatives.

“Pet Circle has the key ingredients of a strong consumer offering and has already built genuine loyalty at scale. I’m joining because I believe the strongest chapter is still ahead, and that it will be built on knowing and serving pet parents better than anyone else,” Morley says.

Pet Valu

Richard Maltsbarger has stepped down as Senior Advisor at Ontario-based pet retailer Pet Valu.

Maltsbarger served as CEO for over 7 years, where he led technology and supply chain transformations, helped launch the Leadership Development Program and Four Paws initiatives and guided the company to an initial public offering (IPO).

In August 2025, the former COO, Greg Ramier, was appointed CEO, starting 21 September, while Maltsbarger transitioned to a Senior Advisor until his retirement this April.

Zenex Animal Health

Indian animal health firm Zenex Animal Health has named Aniruddha Rajurkar as its new CEO, effective immediately. He replaces Arun Atrey, who continues on at the company as Managing Director (MD) and Board Member, focusing on inorganic growth, partnerships and regulatory affairs.

Rajurkar has over 25 years of leadership experience across diverse areas, including animal health, pharmaceutical, contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO), over- the-counter (OTC) products and strategic operations. Most recently, he was CEO of Sava Healthcare, a global pharmaceutical manufacturing company.

“With a proven track record of leadership and strategic insight, Aniruddha brings the vision and capability needed to guide Zenex Animal Health into its next phase of growth. I am confident that Aniruddha will navigate this transition successfully and take the organization to a higher level of scale and performance,” says Renuka Ramnath, Chairperson of Zenex Animal Health.

CVS

British veterinary group CVS has announced the retirement of Richard Fairman from the Board and his role as CEO.

Fairman has led CVS through a period of sustained growth, including international expansion into Australia and the company’s move to the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

“Since joining CVS in 2018 as Chief Financial Officer and assuming the role of CEO in 2019, Richard has led the Group through a period of significant strategic progress in support of its purpose to provide the best possible care to animals,” says David Wilton, Chair of CVS.

“Under Richard’s leadership, CVS has built a culture centered on clinical excellence, strengthened its position as a veterinary employer of choice and delivered sustainable growth alongside successful international expansion into the Australian market,” he adds.

Fairman remains in his role until a successor is appointed to ensure an orderly transition. The Board has initiated a search process to identify his replacement.