New Leadership Moves in Pet Industry

Pet industry leaders have made significant changes to their organizations, with new appointments and leadership transitions taking place.

A veterinary virtual care organization has installed a new board president following a leadership transition from its founding chair. The Veterinary Virtual Care Association (VVCA) has appointed Jessica May, BVetMed (Hons), as president of its board of directors, succeeding founding board chair Mark Cushing. May has served on the VVCA board since 2022 and has previously worked to advance virtual veterinary care during the rapid expansion of digital healthcare.

## New Leadership in Veterinary Virtual Care Association

The VVCA was originally founded to help the veterinary profession adapt to the challenges of the pandemic and has since grown into a professional association focused on the responsible integration of virtual care in veterinary medicine. May has expressed her commitment to continuing the organization's mission, stating that virtual care has become an essential part of modern veterinary medicine, helping practices better serve clients while improving access to care for countless pets and their families.

A publicly traded pet health and wellness company has added a retail finance veteran to its board. Petco Health & Wellness has appointed Jeffrey Naylor, MBA, to its board of directors, effective August 1, 2026, where he will also serve as chair of the company's audit committee. Naylor brings more than two decades of finance and operations experience in the retail sector.

## New Leadership in Petco Health & Wellness

Naylor has held multiple senior leadership roles at various companies, including The TJX Companies, Big Lots, Dade Behring, and The Limited. He has also served as chair of the board and audit committee member at Synchrony Financial and as a director and audit committee chair at Wayfair.

A pet insurance provider has brought on a former industry CEO to lead its growth strategy. Odie Pet Insurance has appointed Lane Kent as chief growth officer, where he will lead the company's growth strategy across strategic partnerships, embedded distribution, channel development, product strategy, and operational execution. Kent brings more than three decades of insurance leadership experience.

## New Leadership in Odie Pet Insurance

Kent has previously served as chief executive officer of Independence Pet Group, one of North America's largest pet insurance platforms, and has also served as its chief operating officer. He has expressed his enthusiasm for joining Odie Pet Insurance, stating that the company has the ingredients he looks for in a growth company, including a compelling market opportunity, a founder-led culture, a flexible and modern platform, and a clear willingness to challenge legacy assumptions in the category.

| Company | New Leadership | Effective Date | | --- | --- | --- | | Veterinary Virtual Care Association | Jessica May, BVetMed (Hons) | July 30, 2026 | | Petco Health & Wellness | Jeffrey Naylor, MBA | August 1, 2026 | | Odie Pet Insurance | Lane Kent | August 5, 2026 |