Pets at Home appoints new CFO

Mike Iddon, who has been chief financial officer of the petcare retailer for the last nine years, will remain at the company until spring 2026 to ”ensure an orderly transition”. 

The retailer has announced the appointment of Sarah Pollard to succeed Iddon. Pollard joins from her role as chief financial officer at PZ Cussons, where she has been since 2021. Pollard has also held finance director roles at Birds Eye and was deputy chief financial officer at Nomad Foods. 

The update comes as Pets’ chief executive Lyssa McGowan left her role and the business unexpectedly cut its profit guidance. 

McGowan had been chief executive of Pets at Home since 2022, and earlier this month the petcare retailer has announced that she would step down “with immediate effect” and that it would be cutting its annual profit guidance for a second time this year.

The retailer said the underlying pet retail market had remained “subdued”, with the rate of improvement in its retail business “below expectations” and store sales declining 5% year to date. 

Pets’ non-executive chair Ian Burke has assumed the role of executive chair until a permanent chief executive is recruited.

Of the new CFO appointment, Burke said: “On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Mike for the contribution he has made since joining the business in 2016. During his tenure, consumer revenues have more than doubled to £2.0bn and we have returned over £500m to shareholders, with Mike leading the business with calmness and a relentless focus on high standards. Mike will leave next year with our best wishes for a happy and well-deserved retirement.

“I am delighted to welcome Sarah to Pets and she brings with her extensive experience gained in highly competitive consumer sectors. The Board and I look forward to working alongside her, to deliver value for all our stakeholders - customers, colleagues and shareholders - as we continue to deliver our well-established omnichannel, consumer centric strategy.” 

Iddon said: “It has been a privilege to serve at Pets at Home over the past 9 years, during which time the business has gone through profound transformation and growth while always keeping pet owners, our colleagues and our investors at its heart. I will retire leaving the business with a well invested platform, a sector leading vet business and a robust balance sheet that sets it up well for the future. Pets at Home is a truly purpose led business, and I wish the Board and team every success in the future.”

Sarah Pollard, said: “I am thrilled to be joining Ian and the team at Pets. It is a truly purpose-led business, operating in a robust sector, with a market-leading position from which it can create enduring value for shareholders, and financial success in which all stakeholders can share. I am looking forward to bringing my experience gained from a career in UK retail and consumer product public companies, to build on Mike’s strong legacy and help propel Pets forward on its next exciting chapter.”