Cheshire pet care group announces new non-executive chairman

Cheshire-based Pets at Home Group has unveiled Ian Burke as its new non-executive chairman.

He replaces the outgoing Tony DeNunzio in a move announced as part of the Handforth group’s interim results last November.

Pets at Home said the appointment followed an “extensive external and internal search process”.

Mr Burke has been chair of Studio Retail Group since 2017 and is also a non executive senior independent director of intu properties, where he has been a member of various board committees since 2018.

He has extensive board experience. Past board positions include CEO of Thistle Hotels, chair of the privately-owned veterinary group Vet Partners, and a long tenure on the board at Rank Group as non executive chair, executive chair and CEO.

Tony DeNunzio will stay in role in order to ensure an orderly handover to Mr Burke, who will assume his new position at the start of the new financial year.

Peter Pritchard, Pets at Home Group chief executive, said: Over the last 10 years, Tony has been an exceptional chair overseeing our transition from a private business to a listed company.

“More recently he has supported our business in implementing the strategic plan to become ‘The World’s Best Pet Care Business’, bringing everything together for the pet owner, driven by data and insight.

“Our recent performance is reflective of the progress we are making by focusing on our core capabilities and differences.”

He added: “We will miss Tony and thank him for his enormous contribution, his wise counsel and, above all his, friendship.

“We all wish him well for the future.

“I’m delighted to welcome Ian, as our new chairman, and look forward to working alongside him as we continue to deliver our exciting strategy.”