Mars Pet Nutrition has announced the appointment of Nick Foster as general manager for the UK, Ireland & Nordics.
It marks the end of a four-year stint as UK & Ireland GM of Mars Petcare brand Royal Canin – during which he was “recognised for fostering strong engagement both internally and externally”, said the supplier.
In his time at Royal Canin, Foster “spearheaded a digital acceleration programme, developing the capabilities of the team, building digital platforms and accelerating growth with e-commerce partners. With a passion for bringing the outside in, in his most recent role, he cultivated robust relationships with key opinion leaders, customers, charities, and professional organisations.”
Foster is an alumnus of the Mars graduate programme, which he joined in 2006. He began at Mars Food before moving to the petcare business in 2008. During a previous spell at Mars Pet Nutrition, he held three different roles on the UK leadership team, including marketing & category director.
“After my time with the incredibly talented team at Royal Canin, I’m very excited to be returning to lead Mars Pet Nutrition,” Foster said. “It’s a privilege to lead this business into its next chapter, continue to deliver our purpose, ‘A Better World for Pets’, and to serve a new generation of pet parents.”
In his new job, he replaces Paolo Rigamonti, who was appointed regional president for Mars Pet Nutrition Europe earlier this year.
The position Foster leaves at Royal Canin will be covered by the brand’s Nordics general manager, James McGrath, whose responsibilities have been expanded to include UK & Ireland.
“Having spent the last nine years working across different parts of Europe, it feels meaningful to take on a general manager role in the unit where I started,” said McGrath, who joined Mars in 2009 and Royal Canin last September.
At the brand, “health and nutrition expertise helps us to achieve our purpose”, he added. “It’s a mission we live every day, whether through our long-term relationships with partners like Medical Detection Dogs, fostering close partnerships with pet professionals, or the millions of pets we serve with tailored nutrition each year through our retail partners.
“The UK & Ireland team is hugely passionate about the pets we serve, and I’m looking forward to playing a role in the business’s exciting growth journey.”
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