Executive Management Team Appointments

RNS Number : 9357F

Pets At Home Group Plc

01 November 2018

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 1st November 2018

Pets at Home Group Plc: Executive Management Team appointments

Pets at Home, the UK's leading pet care business, is pleased to announce the appointments of David Robinson as COO of Retail and Jane Balmain as Interim CEO of the Vet Group's First Opinion business

David joins Pets at Home with a wealth of experience in the retail industry, including the past two years as Managing Director of Bestway Retail. David also spent 15 years at Home Retail Group, most recently as Chief Operating Officer for Argos, where he ran day-to-day operations and played a key role in the digital transformation of the business. He has also held senior roles at Homebase and Dixons Retail. David will report to Peter Pritchard, Pets at Home Group CEO and will join the business in 2019.

Jane will rejoin the Vet Group, having established the Joint Venture Companion Care in-store vet model in 2001 and growing the business successfully before retiring in 2014. Jane will commence her role immediately, reporting to Peter Pritchard, and has committed to the next twelve months whilst also supporting our search for a permanent leader of the Vet Group. Peter Pritchard will continue to lead the Vet Group's Specialist Referral business.

Peter Pritchard, Group CEO, commented:  "I am delighted that David will be joining us. Following Robert Kent's appointment as Chief Data Officer only a few weeks ago, we are making another strategically important and senior level appointment, who will be critical to achieving our goal of becoming the world's best pet care business. David has proven strength in running operations across a diverse group of retailers and his experience leading the digital transformation at Argos will be hugely valuable in our pursuit to make Pets at Home an increasingly digitally-led business.

I'm also thrilled to be welcoming Jane Balmain back to the Group. Jane was responsible for establishing the in-store Companion Care Joint Venture model and growing the business successfully and sustainably through her tenure. Jane is well known by many of our Joint Venture Partners and Vet Group colleagues, and we look forward to benefitting from her expertise and support over the coming months."

David Robinson commented: "Pets at Home is a much-loved brand and industry leader, which is uniquely positioned to deliver the full range of pet care to owners across the UK. I'm very excited to be joining the team at a time when the business is moving towards a more integrated, digitally lead approach, where I can help deliver on its ambitions to be the world's number one pet care business."

Jane Balmain commented: "I'm both pleased and proud to have been asked to return to the Vet Group as Interim CEO of First Opinion business. This was an easy decision for me, not only do I believe it's an amazing business, but it's also one that I am hugely passionate about. I'm looking forward to meeting our Joint Venture Partners and the team at the Support Office, and seeing some familiar faces once again. Over the next twelve months I will be focusing my time on listening to Partners and colleagues in the business, improving our service levels to practices and making the changes necessary to grow the business successfully and sustainably."

Investor Relations Enquiries

Pets at Home Group Plc:

[phone]

Amie Gramlick, Director of Investor Relations

Media Enquiries

Pets at Home Group Plc:

[phone]

Brian Hudspith, Director of Corporate Affairs

Maitland:

[phone]

Joanna Davidson

About Pets at Home

Pets at Home Group Plc is the UK's leading pet care business; our commitment is to make sure pets and their owners get the very best advice, products and care. Pet products are available online or from our 449 superstores, many of which also have vet practices and grooming salons. Pets at Home also operates a UK leading small animal veterinary business, with 468 First Opinion practices located both in our stores and in standalone locations, as well as four Specialist Referral centres. For more information visit: http://investors.petsathome.com/

 

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