Purina appoints first female CEO
Nestlé Purina PetCare announced that Nina Leigh Krueger, previous president of Purina PetCare United States, will transition into the role of chief executive officer and president of Purina PetCare for the Americas. Krueger will become Purina’s first female chief executive officer.
She will replace Joseph R. Sivewright, who will step down from his position as chief executive officer of Purina PetCare for the Americas region and continue as chairman of Nestlé’s board of directors. This transition will be complete Jan. 1, 2021.
“Joe’s depth of experience, sound judgment and ability to skillfully lead a large organization has led to amazing growth and has Purina positioned for a bright future,” said Laurent Freixe, chief executive officer of Nestlé’s Zone Americas. “Nina Leigh’s business acumen, exceptional leadership and communication skills, and ability to bring out the best in people make her the ideal successor to guide Purina for years to come.”
Krueger has spent 27 years of her career with Purina, starting in 1993 as a brand management intern before joining the company’s marketing team for cat food products in 1994. She led the marketing integration of Purina when it was purchased by Nestlé in 2001.
Additionally, Krueger led Purina’s cat litter division as vice president of marketing from 2010 to 2015, where she drove innovations such as Tidy Cats LightWeight Litter. In 2015, she became chief marketing officer of Nestlé Purina United States, and in 2016 she became president of Nestlé Purina United States.
“I truly am honored by this opportunity,” Krueger said. “I look forward to working with our Purina team to accelerate our strong momentum and to build on our more than 90-year history of making science-based dog and cat foods, treats and cat litter that pet owners trust. We will continue to run our business safely and provide consumers with high-quality nutrition that helps pets live longer, healthier lives.”