ST. LOUIS
Compana Pet Brands, global leader in pet care and nutrition, today announced it has appointed Greg Pearson as Chief Executive Officer, effective Jan. 1, 2023. Pearson succeeds John Howe, who will transition to a new role as senior advisor for the company.
Pearson is a seasoned and proven executive with deep experience leading and transforming consumer businesses. Most recently, he served as CEO of Pretzels, Inc., 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. During his tenure, Pretzels, Inc. 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. These investments in production capacity and innovation capabilities ultimately led to the successful sale of Pretzels, Inc. to The Hershey Company in 2021.
Pearson also brings a wealth of experience in pet products, having spent three years at Chewy.com, the leading online retailer for pet food and pet-related products. He established Chewy.com’s private brands business, growing it from inception into a portfolio of more than 11 brands across pet food, treats, toys, and apparel. He later became head of marketing at Chewy.com. Additionally, Pearson has a long history in consumer packaged goods, including early experience in brand management at General Mills and subsequent experience in general management for private label brands at Conagra Brands, Inc.
Howe has decided to step down from his position after nearly 15 years as CEO and more than two decades at the company in order to devote more time to his personal passions, including his family. Howe has transitioned to the role of senior advisor to Compana and will provide continuing support to Pearson, the executive leadership team and the board. Under Howe’s leadership, the company’s revenue has grown eightfold through product innovation, retail expansion, organic growth, and acquisitions – including 15 acquisitions in the last 10 years. In March 2022, the company rebranded from Manna Pro Products to Compana Pet Brands to reflect the company’s transformation into the modern, diverse pet care and wellness company it is today.
David Basto, managing director and partner at Carlyle and director on Compana’s board, said, “On behalf of the board, I would like to thank John Howe for his unwavering commitment to Compana over the past 21 years. We wish him all the best as he embarks on this new chapter and look forward to continuing to work with him as a trusted advisor to the company.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Greg Pearson to the Compana team as CEO,” said Katy Dickson, director on Compana’s board. “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.”
“I am honored to serve as Compana’s new CEO and look forward to working closely with the board and the talented team at Compana to execute on its strategic plan and to build on the company’s strong momentum,” said Pearson. “With its growing portfolio of unique brands and reputation for products that consumers and their pets love and trust, Compana has significant opportunities to expand its retail footprint, to acquire new brands, and to strengthen our value proposition for partners and employees.”
Compana is owned by funds managed by global investment firm The Carlyle Group. For more information, visit Compana’s website at companapetbrands.com.
About Compana Pet Brands
With roots dating back to 1842, Compana Pet Brands is a global leader in pet care and nutrition dedicated to enriching the lives of pets and their families. Based in St. Louis and employing approximately 700 passionate pet lovers around the world, the company manufactures and markets more than 20 household brands in dog and cat, backyard chicken, equine, small animal and indoor bird categories. Compana believes pets are an important part of the family and its broad portfolio of brands focuses on care and wellness solutions to improve the quality of life for pets of all shapes and sizes throughout their lifespans. For more information, visit companapetbrands.com or follow Compana on LinkedIn.
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