HR alert: Pet players close March with a wave of leadership changes

Companies spanning retail, healthcare, nutrition and services have recently named new leaders to steer strategy and support the next phase of growth.

Zoom Room

American indoor dog training gym franchise Zoom Room has appointed Soumik Chatterjee, former Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer at Petco, as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO).

The Californian company also named former Petco CEO Ron Coughlin as Chairman of the Board as part of its national expansion strategy.

Chatterjee brings over 20 years of experience in strategy, finance and transformation across Fortune 500 companies. In addition to Petco, he has held roles at HP, Qualcomm, Capital One and Accenture. As CFO, he will lead Zoom Room’s financial strategy to support the brand’s national franchise expansion.

Coughlin has 3 decades of experience with major consumer brands, including PepsiCo and HP. As CEO of Petco, he added 7 million customers, grew revenue by over 40% and expanded the company’s veterinary footprint to more than 280 locations.

As Chairman, he will work closely with CEO Mark Van Wye and the management team, advising on strategy, talent development, industry relationships and long-term value creation.

Founded in 2007, Zoom Room operates over 60 locations in the US, focusing on dog training and socialization.

Maxi Zoo France

Maxi Zoo France has appointed Vincent Doumerc as its new CEO, bringing over 25 years of retail experience. In this role, he will focus on strengthening the company’s market position and deepening customer relationships in an increasingly competitive environment.

He will succeed Jan Wejbrandt, who served as the company’s CEO for over 12 years. Under his tenure, Maxi Zoo France expanded from 67 stores to 467 today.

Before joining the company, Doumerc held leadership roles at TotalEnergies, the French energy group; Yum! Restaurants International, a global restaurant operator; Groupe Casino, a French multinational retail company; and Franprix, the group’s convenience store chain.

Maxi Zoo, a subsidiary of Fressnapf Group, is a European pet retailer. The French business is on track to reach 600 stores by 2028.

PetWise

On 25 March, PetWise founder Aaron Lamstein was appointed as CEO, effective immediately. He founded the company in 1990 and served as its CEO for 18 years. Now, he will lead product innovation, retail strategy, supply chain improvements and customer partnerships.

“I believe PetWise has a robust portfolio of trusted brands, deep category positions and outstanding customer relationships. My vision for the company is to build on this strong foundation while reigniting our entrepreneurial spirit, sharpening our operational excellence and accelerating our speed to market,” he says.

PetWise is a US-based manufacturer of pet products with brands including goDog, SHERPA, SmartyKat, and TrustyPup, among others. It produces toys, bedding, accessories and treats.

HORNBACH

German home and garden retailer HORNBACH Management has appointed Erich Harsch as its new CEO, effective 1 November 2026. He succeeds Albrecht Hornbach, whose contract expires on 31 October.

Prior to joining HORNBACH in 2020, Harsch served as CEO of dm-drogerie markt, Germany’s largest drugstore chain, for 11 years.

The company will also welcome Jan Hornbach and Nils Hornbach as members of the Board of Management, effective 1 November. They will oversee the company’s e-business, logistics, and the Bodenhaus retail business, which focuses on flooring solutions.

The group operates 176 do-it-yourself (DIY) megastores, with garden centers and online shops, across 9 European countries.

Dehner Group

Sven Girmendonk has joined German garden and pet retailer Dehner Group as Chief Sales Officer effective 1 April.

“Dehner has built an impressive legacy, and I’m truly looking forward to working alongside such a passionate and dedicated team. The opportunity to help shape the company’s strategic direction and contribute to its continued growth is both a privilege and a challenge I’m eager to take on,” Girmendonk said in a LinkedIn post.

Prior to joining Dehner, the executive held senior roles at pet retailers Fressnapf and Arcaplanet, as well as at discount supermarket chain Lidl. He most recently served as Managing Director of Western Europe at Fressnapf | Maxi Zoo, where he was responsible for overseeing country operations, optimizing regional performance and implementing growth strategies.

The Bavaria-based, family-owned group was founded in 1947 and has over 130 stores in Germany and Austria, as well as an e-commerce platform.

NaturVet

Kristy Murphy has been appointed Chief Revenue Officer at NaturVet, a California-based pet health company specializing in premium pet supplements and wellness products.

Prior to this role, Murphy was Senior Vice President at Made by Nacho, a cat food brand. She has also held senior positions at Simply Protein for Pets, Solid Gold Pet, Mars Petcare and WellPet.

“I’m thankful for the warm welcome from the NaturVet team and for the many mentors, colleagues and friends who have supported me along the way. I’m looking forward to contributing to the continued growth of a brand that so many pet families rely on,” the executive says.

Vetio Animal Health

Vetio Animal Health has appointed Nick Williams as Operations Director at Vetio UK. He brings nearly 10 years of experience in contract manufacturing across human and pet healthcare products. He has also spent the past 2.5 years managing operations at Vetio, supporting purchasing, sales, commercial, account management and quality teams.

“My experience covers most aspects of the business, from working with prospects and shaping commercial strategy to supporting customer service and operational delivery. I am delighted to have been promoted into this new role,” Williams says.

Vetio is a contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) dedicated to animal health. It offers product development and full-scale manufacturing of veterinary pharmaceutical products, pet nutrition supplements and topical liquids.