Pets at Home PLC (LON:PETS) saw its shares gain on Thursday following news of two executive appointments, recovering after being hit a downgrade in rating to ‘sell’ by Goldman Sachs on Wednesday.
The FTSE All-Share group said it has appointed David Robinson as chief operating officer of Retail and named Jane Balmain as the interim chief executive officer of the Vet Group's First Opinion business.
READ: Pets at Home shares surge as price cuts and instore vets boost revenues
The pet supplies retailer said Robinson, who will be joining the firm in 2019, has been managing director of cash and carry business Bestway Wholesale’s Retail operations for the past two years. Bestway bought collapsed Bargain Booze owner Conviviality’s retail arm from administrators earlier this year.
Robinson also spent 15 years at Home Retail Group, latterly as chief operating officer for Argos – acquired last year by J Sainsbury plc (LON:SBRY) - where he ran day-to-day operations and played a key role in the digital transformation of the business.
Meanwhile, Balmain will rejoin Pets at Home’s Vet Group, having established the joint venture companion care in-store vet model in 2001.
She will begin her role immediately, and has committed to the next twelve months while also supporting the company's search for a permanent leader of the Vet Group after the exit of the unit’s previous CEO, Andrei Balta announced on 10 October.
In late afternoon trading, Pets at Home shares were 4% higher at 114.40p.