Pets at Home Group Plc has announced that Ian Kellett, group chief executive officer (CEO) has decided to leave the Board.
The company has stated that this is due to “his desire to step away from corporate life and pursue his own personal business interests”.
Peter Pritchard, currently CEO of retail, will succeed Ian as Group CEO when he leaves in May 2018.
Peter joined Pets at Home in 2011 as commercial director and moved to the role of CEO of Retail in 2015.
Tony DeNunzio, chairman, said:“I am pleased to announce Peter’s future succession as Group CEO. Ian and Peter will continue to work closely together over the next six months through which there will be an orderly handover process. Peter has steered the Retail business for a number of years and has been responsible for the launch of some highly successful initiatives, and I am confident he will provide strong leadership to the Group.
“I want to thank Ian for his long tenure at Pets at Home, having successfully led multiple areas of the business in his roles as Chief Financial Officer, within Retail, and as Group CEO. On behalf of the Board, I wish him well as he takes a break from corporate life to pursue his personal business interests.”
Ian Kellett said: “Having spent the past twelve years with Pets at Home, I feel very fortunate to have worked in such a special business with some amazing people. I am proud to have been part of transforming the Group from its retail roots into the much wider services and omnichannel business it is today.
“The actions we have taken this year to reposition Retail pricing have landed well, and we have a clearly defined plan that will deliver further results. It is with this in mind that I feel able to move on and pursue my own personal business interests, which will provide me with a different type of challenge at this point in my career.”
Nicolas Gheysens, non-executive director, has resigned and will step down from the Board with immediate effect. The Group’s Principal Shareholder, KKR My Best Friend Limited, has decided not to exercise its right to replace Mr Gheysens’ position on the Board as part of the Relationship Agreement.
