UK-Compana Pet Brands, a global leader in pet care and nutrition, has announced the appointment of Greg Pearson as Chief Executive Officer to succeed John Howe.
Compana in a press release noted that, John Howe has decided to step down from his position after nearly 15 years as CEO and more than two decades at the company to devote more time to his passions, including his family, and will play the role of senior advisor for the company.
Under Howe’s leadership, Compana’s revenue grew eightfold through new product innovations, retail expansions, organic growth, and several acquisitions.
Howe also helped lead the company through its rebranding from Manna Pro Products to Compana in March 2022.
The Pet Brands company said that Greg Pearson, who is taking over the mantle “is a seasoned and proven executive with deep experience leading and transforming consumer businesses.
Before the appointment, Pearson served as CEO of Pretzels, a rapidly growing private label and contract manufacturer of pretzels in the United States, where he led a variety of transformational growth and operational initiatives
While at Pretzels, he scaled its supply chain by opening a third manufacturing facility, which created over 300 new manufacturing jobs and invested heavily in new product development, introducing several products to the market
“Greg’s deep experience in consumer-packaged goods and in the pet category specifically, including his exceptional track record in building great consumer brands and the operations that support them, will be invaluable as we continue to scale the business and capitalize on both organic and inorganic growth opportunities,”
Pearson also brings a wealth of experience in pet products from his three years of experience at Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and pet-related products.
He grew the Chewy.com business from inception into a portfolio of more than 11 brands across pet food, treats, toys, and apparel and later he became head of marketing at Chewy.com
He also has a vast experience in consumer-packaged goods from General mills and subsequent experience in general management for private label brands at Conagra Brands.
“Greg’s deep experience in consumer-packaged goods and in the pet category specifically, including his exceptional track record in building great consumer brands and the operations that support them, will be invaluable as we continue to scale the business and capitalize on both organic and inorganic growth opportunities,” said Katy Dickson, Director of Company’s board.
Pearson said that he is thrilled to be part of Compana Pets with its growing portfolio of unique brands and reputation for products that consumers and their pets love and trust.
He added that Compana has “significant opportunities to expand its retail footprint, to acquire new brands, and to strengthen its value proposition for partners and employees.”
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