Paws and profits: Mars names North America pet nutrition president, plus more updates

A major pet nutrition company has appointed a new regional president to oversee its North America business, and a dog wellness franchise has filled 3 C-suite positions as it continues expanding its footprint nationwide. Continue reading to learn more about each individual.

Christina Ruggiero, MSc, regional president, Mars Pet Nutrition North America

Earlier this summer, Mars appointed Christina Ruggiero, MSc, as regional president of Mars Pet Nutrition North America. In the role, Ruggieo oversees a portfolio of brands including Pedigree, Iams, Sheba, Cesar, Greenies, Temptations, and Nutro across the United States and Canada.¹

Ruggiero joins Mars from The Coca-Cola Company, where she most recently served as president of the global nutrition category, leading a $9 billion portfolio that included Minute Maid, Simply, fairlife, and Innocent. Prior to that role, she served as president of North America operations for Coca-Cola's Central Zone and spent nearly 4 years in India as chairperson and CEO of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages. Earlier in her career, she held procurement and supply chain roles at Diageo and began her career as a cryptologist in the US Navy. She holds a master's degree in management from the University of Huddersfield and a bachelor of science from Marymount College.

"Throughout my career, I've been drawn to businesses with category-defining brands, strong purpose and opportunities to create meaningful impact," Ruggiero said in a company news release.¹ "Mars Pet Nutrition combines world-class science, culturally fluent brands and a deep understanding of the role pets play in people's lives. I'm excited to join the team at such an important time for the business."

Summer Nunn, chief commercial officer, Scenthound

Scenthound has appointed Summer Nunn as chief commercial officer, where she will oversee the company's commercial strategy, including pricing, membership packaging, partnerships, and marketing initiatives. Nunn most recently served as chief marketing officer at NearU Services and has previously held senior roles at Driven Brands, Magnolia Wash Holdings, and Payzer.

Nunn's appointment is one of 3 C-suite hires Scenthound announced simultaneously, alongside a new chief development officer and chief financial officer. The three leaders bring more than five decades of combined experience across franchising, multi-unit operations, finance, and development.

"I've always been drawn to brands that solve real consumer needs while building long-term customer relationships, and Scenthound does exactly that," Nunn said in a company news release.² "I'm excited to be part of the brand's journey as we continue to expand access to dog wellness services in communities across the country."

Michael Chin, MBA, chief development officer, Scenthound

Scenthound has also appointed Michael Chin, MBA, as chief development officer, where he will lead franchise development, real estate strategy, and market expansion efforts. Chin joins Scenthound from GoDog, where he served as vice president of growth, and has previously held leadership roles at Level 5 Capital Partners and CorePower Yoga.

In his new role, Chin will work to build out Scenthound's development infrastructure as the brand scales into new markets. Scenthound currently has finalized plans for more than 450 franchised and corporate-owned locations across 32 states.

"Jake, Michael, and Summer are the kind of leaders we need at this stage of Scenthound's growth," said Tim Vogel, CEO of Scenthound.² "We're building a national brand centered on routine dog wellness, and that requires leadership that understands how to scale thoughtfully while improving the customer experience at every level."

Jake Singleton, MAcc, chief financial officer, Scenthound

For its third appointment, Scenthound named Jake Singleton, MAcc, as chief financial officer, where he will oversee the company's financial strategy and planning, including accounting, treasury, and capital allocation. Singleton brings more than 20 years of finance and accounting experience, most recently serving as chief financial officer at The Joint Chiropractic, where he helped scale the brand from 262 to 967 locations and led financial forecasting, mergers and acquisitions, treasury management, and SEC reporting.

Prior to The Joint Chiropractic, Singleton held finance roles across multi-unit and franchise businesses. At Scenthound, he will support the brand's financial operations as it continues its national expansion.

“These appointments strengthen our ability to expand into new markets and continue building a category-defining franchise system,” Vogel continued.² “I couldn't be more confident in the team we're putting in place.”

References

1. Mars Appoints Christina Ruggiero as North America Regional President for Pet Nutrition Business. News release. Mars, Incorporated. July 21, 2026. Accessed August 10, 2026. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mars-appoints-christina-ruggiero-as-north-america-regional-president-for-pet-nutrition-business-302830377.html
2. A New Era of Growth: Scenthound Adds Three C-Suite Leaders as Brand Accelerates Nationwide Expansion. News release. Scenthound. July 21, 2026. Accessed August 10, 2026. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/a-new-era-of-growth-scenthound-adds-three-c-suite-leaders-as-brand-accelerates-nationwide-expansion-302830532.html