Pets at Home Group has appointed a new chief executive following the resignation of Nick Wood, who is taking a break from business to spend time with his family.
Ian Kellett will be promoted from chief executive of retail, a job he began last June, on 4 April. He will be supported by Wood in an advisory role until 1 July.
Kellett has been on the main board for the past 10 years, joining as chief financial officer in April 2006. He was previously finance director of Staples’ retail business in the UK for two years and deputy finance director of managed pub company JD Wetherspoon between 1999 and 2004.
Kellett played a pivotal role in the Pets at Home flotation in March 2014 and in the expansion of the group’s veterinary services with the acquisition of Vets4Pets a year earlier.
Peter Pritchard, chief operating officer in the retail division, will take over from Kellett as chief executive of the division.
Pritchard has a long history in retail with senior operational and commercial roles at Asda, Sainsbury’s, M&S and Iceland. He joined Pets at Home in January 2011 as commercial director before winning promotion.
Sally Hopson remains chief executive of the services division and Louise Stonier as group legal director and company secretary. Graeme Jenkins joins the group on 4 April as chief financial officer, as previously announced.
Tony DeNunzio, chairman, said Kellett had a strong vision for the group based on his experience over 10 years with the company in both financial and operational roles.
“I am confident he will continue to provide excellent leadership to the group.”
Wood said: “It has been a privilege to lead Pets at Home for four years, but after over eight 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.”
Kellett said he looked forward as Pets at Home entered “the next exciting stage of its development”.
No comments yet