Pets at Home boss Peter Pritchard to step down

Peter Pritchard has announced plans to step down as the chief executive of FTSE 250 retailer Pets at Home next Summer.

The chain said the boss will remain fully engaged in his role until late May to oversee the presentation of the group’s 2022 preliminary results to investors.

A search for a successor has been launched.

Pritchard, who is 51, has led the business since 2018 and been with Pets at Home since 2011.

He today said: “Having completed everything that I set out to achieve in 2018, next summer is the right time to take well-earned rest and to hand over the reins to a new leader who will continue this journey in becoming the best petcare business in the world.”

The firm has seen high demand for products and services during the pandemic, as a wave of people became pet owners for the first time, making the most of working from home in lockdowns.”

Ian Burke, chairman of Pets at Home, said Pritchard’s “tireless work and dedication” has given the company “a very firm foundation for growth long into the future”.

The update came as the retailer also said based on trading year to date, the board anticipates that underlying pre-tax profit for the 53 weeks to March 2022 will be at the top end of the current range of analyst expectations.