Pets at Home makes two executive team appointments

Pets at Home has appointed David Robinson as its new chief operating officer of retail and Jane Balmain as interim chief executive officer of the Vet Group's First Opinion business.

The pet supplies retailer said Robinson has a wealth of experience in the retail industry, including the past two years as managing director of cash and carry business Bestway Retail. He also spent 15 years at Home Retail Group, most recently as COO for Argos, where he ran day-to-day operations and played a key role in the digital transformation of the business.

Robinson - who also held senior roles at Homebase and Dixons Retail - will report to group chief executive Peter Pritchard and will join the business in 2019.

Meanwhile, Balmain will rejoin the Vet Group, having established the Joint Venture Companion Care in-store vet model in 2001. She will begin her role immediately, reporting to Pritchard, and has committed to the next twelve months. She will also support the company's search for a permanent leader of the Vet Group.

Peter Pritchard will continue to lead the Vet Group's specialist referral business.

Shore Capital analyst Phil Carroll said: "The appointments look to be solid enough on paper with significant relevant experience albeit we note David Robinson’s recent experience was with the business Bestway bought out of the Conviviality administration if we are not mistaken. However, we do not believe it was the retail division of Conviviality that was behind the cash flow issues that resulted in the demise of Conviviality Plc.

"We would be lying if we did not have any concerns about the current performance of the Vets division of Pets (albeit Q1 sales were strong LFL +13.6%) and the re-appointment of Jane Balmain can be read both positively and negatively. Having the person back who set up the model is great and should hit the ground running but there do appear to be issues to be addressed given the exit of Andrei Balta, the previous CEO of the Vet Group with no succession plan. The statement did say it was his decision but generally folks do not depart when things are going well."

At 1120 GMT, the shares were up 4.7% to 115.10p.