NVA and Zoetis Announce Key Executive Appointments

National Veterinary Associates (NVA) has appointed Leslie Storms as its new Chief Operating Officer. The company also promoted Dr. Stacy Burdick to the newly created role of Chief Medical Officer for its entire network of roughly 1300 general practice, specialty, and emergency hospitals.

Zoetis has appointed Diego Garcia as President of its global diagnostics division, effective September 1, 2026. Garcia, who brings 22 years of experience from Pfizer and Zoetis, will succeed Abhay Nayak.

NVA's New Operational Leader

Leslie Storms will lead business operations across NVA's extensive hospital network. She previously served as President of Ethos Veterinary Health, where she oversaw more than 140 specialty and emergency hospitals. Storms has over 25 years of executive experience in healthcare and related fields, including nearly two decades at Johnson & Johnson.

In a statement, NVA CEO John Bruno said the company's next phase focuses on transforming the pet owner experience to be more personal and accessible while advancing veterinary medicine. He stated that Storms and Burdick have the experience to move these priorities forward.

A First: Unified Medical Leadership

Dr. Stacy Burdick's promotion marks the first time NVA has had a single Chief Medical Officer overseeing all care settings. A board-certified small animal internal medicine specialist, Burdick will lead the company's medical strategy and join its executive leadership team. Her responsibilities include advancing medical quality and improving clinical outcomes.

Burdick has more than 25 years of experience in clinical practice and medical leadership. Most recently, as Chief Medical Officer of Ethos Veterinary Health, she led the integration of four legacy organizations into a unified network. She has also held national medical roles within NVA-Compassion First and served as chief of staff at NVA's Red Bank Veterinary Hospital.

Zoetis Bets on Diagnostics

Diego Garcia will lead Zoetis' diagnostics division, which the company describes as a core pillar of its long-term strategy. The division focuses on earlier disease detection, improving clinical confidence, and enhancing workflow efficiency for veterinary professionals. Garcia was most recently Senior Vice President and General Manager of Zoetis's Southern Europe Cluster and served as president of the Spanish animal health industry association, Veterindustria.

He takes over the role from Abhay Nayak, who has moved to become Executive Vice President and President of US Commercial Operations for Zoetis. The appointments at both NVA and Zoetis were announced in August 2026.