Paws and profits: Hill's appoints new global chief veterinary officer, Pegasus Laboratories names new VP of sales, and more updates

A global pet nutrition giant has named a new chief veterinary officer as a longtime leader prepares to retire, a fresh pet food company has appointed a new CEO following its founder's departure for health reasons, and an animal health subsidiary has brought on a seasoned commercial leader to drive its next phase of growth. Read on for details about each individual.

Karen Shenoy, DVM, global chief veterinary officer, Hill's Pet Nutrition

Hill's Pet Nutrition has appointed Karen Shenoy, DVM, as its new global chief veterinary officer (CVO), effective as the company's longtime global CVO, Jolle Kirpensteijn, DVM, retires on June 30, 2026 after 13 years with the company. In her new role, Shenoy will lead Hill's global Professional & Veterinary Affairs function and represent the company in industry engagements worldwide.

Shenoy's tenure with Hill's began in 2008 as a practice development veterinarian in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She progressed through multiple field-based and headquarters roles before serving as chief veterinary officer for Hill's US from 2022 to 2025, and most recently as vice president and chief veterinarian for Hill's EMEA. She holds both a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Science and a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from the University of Minnesota.

“I'm honored to become Hill’s Global Chief Veterinary Officer and continue the incredible work of Dr Kirpensteijn,” Shenoy said in a company news release.¹ “At Hill’s, we believe in the profound power of nutrition to transform pets’ lives. I look forward to working alongside our talented teams of scientists, researchers, and veterinary professionals to further elevate our clinical innovations and support veterinary healthcare teams around the world in doing their very best to meet their clients’ and patients’ needs."

As Shenoy steps into the role, Hill's also honored the legacy of the outgoing Kirpensteijn, who joined the company in 2013 following a career at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, where he was a full professor and specialist veterinary surgeon. During his tenure, he was instrumental in establishing Hill's Global Symposiums, driving evidence-based nutrition education, and mentoring future veterinary leaders across the organization.

Kent Luther, vice president of sales and commercial operations, Pegasus Laboratories

Pegasus Laboratories, a subsidiary of PBI-Gordon Companies, has appointed Kent Luther as vice president of sales and commercial operations, the latest in a series of company leadership additions. Luther brings more than 3 decades of executive leadership experience in sales, marketing, strategic accounts, and channel development across domestic and international animal health markets. Most recently, he served as senior vice president of US pet health veterinary sales at Elanco, where he led a nationwide sales organization, expanded the sales force, strengthened strategic partnerships, and launched new products. In his new role, Luther will oversee commercial strategy, revenue growth, sales execution, and organizational leadership across Pegasus.

"Kent is a proven commercial leader with deep animal health experience and a strong track record of building high-performing teams, strengthening customer partnerships, and delivering growth," Joyce J. Lee, senior vice president and general manager of Pegasus Laboratories, said in a company news release.² "Kent's experience scaling large commercial organizations and launching innovative products makes him exactly the right leader to expand Pegasus Laboratories' commercial capabilities."

Michael Meyer, MBA, CEO, JustFoodForDogs

JustFoodForDogs (JFFD) appointed Michael Meyer as CEO, succeeding Eric Kufel, MIM (Marketing and Finanace) who stepped down for personal health reasons, the company said. Meyer brings nearly 2 decades of experience building and scaling premium pet brands, most recently serving since 2022 as CEO of "I and love and you," a natural cat and dog food brand sold in human food stores. He has also held leadership and board roles at Wellness Pet Company, Lily's Kitchen, Restoration Hardware, and Plum Organics.

"Fresh pet food continues to be one of the most exciting and fastest growing segments in the overall category. With consumers focused more and more on their pet's health, demand for fresh, better-for-you, and higher quality food has surged,” Meyer said in a company announcement.³ “I'm excited to lead JFFD into its next phase of growth.”

Founded in 2010, JFFD was among the first companies to open a public kitchen cooking fresh, human-grade food for dogs, and today sells daily meals, shelf-stable products, supplements, and treats across retail locations, major retailers, and online.

References

1. Hill's Pet Nutrition Expands Global Professional Commitment with Key Veterinary Leadership Transitions. News release. Hill's Pet Nutrition. June 4, 2026. Accessed June 15, 2026.
2. PBI-Gordon Companies Names Kent Luther Vice President of Sales and Commercial Operations for Pegasus Laboratories. News release. PBI-Gordon Companies, Inc. June 3, 2026. Accessed June 15, 2026. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pbi-gordon-companies-names-kent-luther-vice-president-of-sales-and-commercial-operations-for-pegasus-laboratories-302789426.html
3. JustFoodForDogs Appoints Michael Meyer as Chief Executive Officer. News release. JustFoodForDogs. May 29, 2026. Accessed June 15, 2026. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/justfoodfordogs-appoints-michael-meyer-as-chief-executive-officer-302785675.html