Directorate Change

RNS Number : 6711S

Pets At Home Group Plc

21 March 2016

 

Pets at Home Group Plc: Ian Kellett to succeed Nick Wood

as Chief Executive Officer

Pets at Home Group Plc, the UK's leading specialist retailer of pet food, accessories and services, is pleased to announce the appointment of Ian Kellett as Chief Executive Officer, with effect from 4^th April 2016, following the resignation of Nick Wood, who will remain with the Group in an advisory role until 1^st July to support Ian and ensure a smooth transition.

Ian has been a member of the Group's Board for the last ten years fulfilling the roles of Chief Financial Officer and latterly the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Retail Division.  Over this time, Ian has steered the business through continuous growth, played a pivotal role in the IPO and the expansion of our veterinary services with the acquisition of Vets4Pets.

Also announced today, Peter Pritchard is promoted from his role of Chief Operating Officer in the Retail Division to Chief Executive Officer of the Retail Division.  Sally Hopson remains Chief Executive Officer of the Services Division and Louise Stonier as Group Legal Director and Company Secretary. As previously announced, Graeme Jenkins will join the Group as Chief Financial Officer on 4^th April. 

The Group continues to trade in line with expectations and will issue a trading update for the fourth quarter on 21^st April 2016.

Commenting on Ian Kellett's appointment, Tony DeNunzio, Chairman, said:

"I am delighted that Ian is succeeding Nick as CEO, having seen them work together so successfully over the past four years on the strategic development of the Group.  His appointment is consistent with the succession plan the Board set out when Ian was appointed last year as CEO of the Retail Division, and with the appointment of Graeme Jenkins as CFO.  Ian has a strong vision for the Group based on his experience over ten years with Pets at Home in both financial and operational roles and I am confident he will continue to provide excellent leadership to the Group.

"I would like to thank Nick for steering the business so capably over the past four years, particularly in overseeing the Group's IPO in 2014.  On behalf of the Board, I wish him well as he takes a break from business life to spend time with his family."

Ian Kellett said said:

"Pets at Home is a special business whose success is founded on its many thousands of talented colleagues who, together with our customers, share a love of pets.  I look forward to leading our amazing team as the business enters the next exciting stage of its development."

Nick Wood said:

"I would like to thank my colleagues throughout the business for the support they have given me over my time as CEO.  It has been a privilege to lead Pets at Home for four years, but after over 8 years working in the North West, and with my children growing up fast, I feel the time is right for me to be based in London with my family."

Investor Relations Enquiries

Pets at Home Group Plc:

[phone]

Amie Gramlick, Head of Investor Relations

Media Enquiries

Pets at Home Group Plc:

[phone]

Brian Hudspith, Director of Corporate Affairs

Maitland (Public Relations Advisors to Pets at Home):

[phone]

Neil Bennett, Tom Eckersley

Notes:

(i)            There is no further information to be disclosed in accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.13.

(ii)           Following his resignation, subject to his continued employment, Nick Wood will receive his normal salary and associated benefits until his leaving date.  Payment of any annual bonus for the period will be in accordance with the remuneration policy and subject to the normal assessment of performance achieved over the period.

(iii)          Under the Company's long term incentive plans, Nick's Matching Award under the Co-Investment Plan will be subject to the Early Leaver performance condition.  Under this, up to 20% of Nick's Matching Award could vest early, subject to the satisfaction of certain early EPS performance targets.  The Early Leaver performance condition will be assessed against the Group's financial results for the years ending 31 March 2015 and 31 March 2016.

(iv)           Ian Kellett's remuneration package includes an annual basic salary of ￡475,000.  His maximum annual bonus entitlement is 100% of salary.  Ian will be entitled to participate in the Company's Performance Share Plan (PSP) and Approved Company Share Option Plan (CSOP).  The next award will take place in May 2016 when the intention is to make an award of PSP and CSOP shares, normally up to 125% of salary in total. The vesting of PSP and CSOP awards will be subject to performance conditions.  Ian's employment contract is subject to a notice period of six months from the individual and twelve months from the Company.

(v)            The above remuneration arrangements are compliant with the Group's remuneration policy that was approved by shareholders in 2014.  Full details of Ian's remuneration arrangements will be disclosed in the Annual Report and Accounts for the 53 weeks ending 31 March 2016.

Ian Kellett joined Pets at Home as Chief Financial Officer in April 2006 and following changes to a divisional management structure, became Chief Executive Officer of Retail in June 2015, remaining as CFO while the search for a new CFO was underway.  Ian also supports the Group's veterinary business as a member of their operational board.  Previous to his time at Pets at Home, Ian was finance director of Staples' retail business in the United Kingdom between 2004 and 2006, and deputy finance director of JD Wetherspoon plc between 1999 and 2004.

Graeme Jenkins will join Pets at Home on 4^th April 2016 as Chief Financial Officer.  Graeme is currently CFO of Australian department store business, Target Australia Pty Ltd, a position he has held since 2013. Prior to this, Graeme was Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director at Virgin Media Business and before this he held a number of senior financial positions at FirstGroup Plc and John Menzies Plc.  He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with Ernst & Young.

Peter Pritchard joined Pets at Home in January 2011 as Commercial Director with responsibility for buying and sourcing, marketing and omni-channel.  In 2015 he was appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Retail Division.  Peter has worked in retail for 25 years in various senior operational and commercial roles at Asda, Sainsbury's, Iceland, Marks and Spencer and Wilkinson Hardware Stores. Peter has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Stirling University.

Sally Hopson MBE joined Pets at Home in December 2008 as the Customer, People and Development Director.  Sally became Chief Executive Officer of the Pets at Home Vet Group in 2013 and was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Services and Group Development and Property Director in 2015, with overall responsibility for our store and format development and pet services offer, notably vets, grooming and insurance.  She became CEO of the Pets at Home Vet Group in 2013 and in 2015 was appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Services Division and Group Development and Property Director with overall responsibility for the Group's store and formal development, Group property Division and the Group's pet services offer, notably vets, grooming and insurance.

 
Sally joined Pets at Home from Asda where she held a number of senior roles over 14 years.  After graduating from the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London with a degree in Middle Eastern History, Sally joined the graduate scheme at Habitat and began a long and enjoyable career in retailing. Sally is also a Non-Executive Director for the Retail Trust and for Jardiland, a French garden centre chain. A particular interest in diversity led to a four year period as a commissioner on The Women in Work Commission and the Learning and Skills Council which was recognised in an MBE awarded in 2006.

Louise Stonier joined Pets at Home in 2004 as Head of Legal and Company Secretary and was promoted to Group Legal Director and Company Secretary in 2008 and to the Executive Team in 2015.  Louise has overall responsibility for legal and governance matters together with health and safety and corporate social responsibility.  Louise is also a trustee and Chair of the charity, Support Adoption For Pets. Louise joined CMS Cameron McKenna as a trainee solicitor.  After qualifying as a Corporate solicitor in 1999, Louise moved to DLA Piper LLP and as an associate in the Corporate Team, acted on a number of  corporate finance and M&A transactions.

About Pets at Home

Pets at Home Group Plc is the UK's leading specialist pet omnichannel retailer and services provider. Pets at Home operates from 413 stores located across the UK. The Group operates the UK's largest small animal veterinary business with 359 practices, run principally under a Joint Venture model using the Vets4Pets and Companion Care brand names, and two specialist referral vet hospitals. Pets at Home is the UK's leading operator of pet grooming services offered through its 205 grooming salons. The Group also operates 4 specialist High Street based dog stores, called Barkers, as well as Ride-away, an equine retail business with a superstore and website. For more information visit: http://investors.petsathome.com/

 

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