New CEO to take reins at American Pet Products Association

With the move, Scott will fill the vacancy left by previous president and CEO Steve King, who retired on Dec. 31, 2021, after serving in the role since January 2019. Following King’s retirement, APPA Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Andrew Darmohraj has acted as interim CEO while the association’s board engaged in a search for a permanent chief executive.

A proven leader with more than 20 years of experience, Scott (pictured left) has served as CEO of the American Academy of Optometry since 2019, APPA said. Before that, he spent more than six years as COO of the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide.

“As those in the pet industry know, we are not only a part of a market-leading and constantly growing industry — reaching a record $123 billion in sales in 2021 — but also a thriving community that aims to lift each other up and help each other succeed,” Scott said in a statement. “I look forward to working alongside the APPA team, our members and other industry partners and stakeholders to continue promoting responsible pet ownership and play a small role in this amazing industry's achievements moving forward.”

APPA noted that Scott is known as a leader who can execute transformational change, driving product innovation and building strong cultures of empowerment and accountability. In addition, he has demonstrated an ability to merge creative strategy, business acumen and governance, which the association said has “earned him the ear” of some of the world’s largest organizations, including Microsoft, Wyndham, Mars, Kraft, the Federal Reserve Bank, Procter & Gamble, Target, PwC, Deloitte, Nielsen, The Canadian House of Commons and Saudi Arabian Capital Markets Authority.

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“APPA is extremely pleased to welcome Peter, a seasoned association executive, to the team. We are confident he is well-positioned to lead the association as it continues to grow, succeed and elevate the global pet care community,” stated Chuck Latham, chairman of the APPA board and founder of H&C Animal Health. “On behalf of the entire board, I would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to board member Bob Merar for his leadership and contributions during his time as interim CEO.”

One of the leading trade groups for the pet care industry, APPA represents nearly 1,000 pet product manufacturers, their representatives, importers and livestock suppliers,  including large companies and growing businesses. Along with the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), APPA co-produces Global Pet Expo, featuring thousands of new product launches in the pet and animal health space.

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