FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 7 FEBRUARY 2022

Pets at Home Group Plc: Appointment of CEO 

Pets at Home Group Plc, the UK's leading pet care business, is pleased to announce the appointment of Lyssa McGowan as Group Chief Executive Officer with effect from 1 June 2022. 

Lyssa will succeed Peter Pritchard, who announced his intention last November to step down from his role in Summer 2022 and will remain with the business until 31 May 2022 to ensure a seamless transition. Lyssa will be appointed to the Board as CEO Designate on 25 April 2022 prior to her appointment as CEO on 1 June 2022.    

Lyssa is the outgoing Chief Consumer Officer at Sky UK Limited, with responsibility for the Consumer business serving more than 10 million customers and achieving over $10bn of revenue. Over the last 11 years, Lyssa has led numerous business units to growth within Sky, both organically and through M&A. She has broad experience of managing product, service and subscription-led businesses, leveraging deep capabilities in new product and service innovation, omnichannel development, marketing and customer experience excellence, and data and digital transformation.

Lyssa was a non-executive director of the Board of Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc until its recent sale to CD&R. 

Ian Burke, Chairman of Pets at Home, commented:

 "On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to announce the appointment of Lyssa as CEO of Pets at Home Group Plc. Lyssa brings strong corporate, strategic and operational expertise across a range of consumer-facing businesses, and a proven track record of growth at Sky, with significant experience in customer and digital-first initiatives across multiple channels and sites."

"Following an extensive search process across internal and external candidates, the Board believes that Lyssa has the requisite skills and capabilities to lead Pets at Home as it executes its future growth strategy. Lyssa's commercial and strategic experience will undoubtedly be of great benefit to Pets at Home and I very much look forward to working with her."

Lyssa McGowan commented:

 "I am thrilled to be joining Pets at Home as CEO. It is a fantastic business with a unique, integrated business model, and a strong purpose-led culture fuelled by the shared passion of over 15,000 colleagues and Partners to care for pets, and the people who love them. I am excited to work with the Board and Executive Management Team to lead Pets at Home on its journey to being the best pet care business in the world."

This announcement contains inside information for the purposes of Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulations (Regulation (EU) No.596/2014). For the purposes of MAR and Article 2 of Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2016/1055, this announcement is being made on behalf of the Company by Roger Tejwani, Director of Investor Relations & External Communication.

This disclosure is given in accordance with Listing Rule 9.6.11. There is no further information to be disclosed under paragraph 9.6.13R of the Listing Rules. 

Remuneration

Lyssa McGowan's remuneration package will consist of a basic salary, benefits and variable incentive arrangements which are in line with Pets at Home Group Plc's Remuneration Policy.

The key elements of Lyssa McGowan's remuneration package are as follows:

·    Base salary of £580,000 which reflects the outgoing CEO's salary for FY21 of £550,000 with an increase of 5.5%, applied. This is broadly in line with the average salary increase awarded to the wider workforce in October 2021.

·    Pension contribution of 6.5% of base salary in line with our Remuneration Policy and the outgoing CEO's remuneration package.

·    An annual bonus maximum award of 170% of base salary, in line with our Remuneration Policy and the outgoing CEO's remuneration package.

·    A RSP maximum of 100% of base salary in line with our Remuneration Policy.

·    Benefits will also be in accordance with the Remuneration Policy set out in the 2021 Annual Report and Accounts and approved by shareholders at the 2020 AGM. 

Enquiries

Pets at Home Group Plc:

Lucy Williams, Company Secretary

+44 (0)161 468 6688

Investor Relations
Pets at Home Group Plc:

Roger Tejwani, Director of Investor Relations & External Communication
+44 (0)1279 927022  

Media Enquiries

Pets at Home Group Plc:

Natalie Cullington, Head of Media & Corporate Affairs
+44 (0)7974 594 701

Maitland/AMO: 

Clinton Manning
+44 (0)7711 972662

Joanna Davidson
+44 (0)7827 254567

About Pets at Home

Pets at Home Group Plc is the UK's leading pet care business; our commitment is to make sure pets and their owners get the very best advice, products and care. Pet products are available online or from our 455 stores, many of which also have vet practices and grooming salons. Pets at Home also operates a UK leading small animal veterinary business, with 442 First Opinion practices located both in our stores and in standalone locations. For more information visit: http://investors.petsathome.com/

Disclaimer

This trading statement does not constitute an invitation to underwrite, subscribe for, or otherwise acquire or dispose of any Pets at Home Group Plc shares or other securities nor should it form the basis of or be relied on in connection with any contract or commitment whatsoever. It does not constitute a recommendation regarding any securities. Past performance, including the price at which the Company's securities have been bought or sold in the past, is no guide to future performance and persons needing advice should consult an independent financial adviser. Certain statements in this trading statement constitute forward-looking statements. Any statement in this document that is not a statement of historical fact including, without limitation, those regarding the Company's future plans and expectations, operations, financial performance, financial condition and business is a forward-looking statement. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results to differ materially. These risks and uncertainties include, among other factors, changing economic, financial, business or other market conditions. These and other factors could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described in this statement. As a result you are cautioned not to place reliance on such forward-looking statements. Nothing in this statement should be construed as a profit forecast.