Business
Appointment of CEO
Pets at Home Group Plc has announced the appointment of James Bailey as Chief Executive Officer, effective March 30, 2026, who previously served as Managing Director of Waitrose for over five years. Bailey's remuneration package includes a base salary of £639,770, a 6.5% pension contribution, an annual bonus up to 170% of base salary, and an annual share option award of 250% of base salary, subject to shareholder approval at the July 9, 2026 AGM. Ian Burke will transition from Executive Chair to Non-Executive Chair upon Bailey's arrival. Disclaimer*
About this update from Pets At Home Group Plc
[{"type":"text","content":"\n\n\n \n \n\n\n\n\nFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, 23 DECEMBER 2025\nTHIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDE INFORMATION NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN WHOLE OR IN PART, IN, INTO OR FROM ANY JURISDICTION WHERE TO DO SO WOULD CONSTITUTE A VIOLATION OF THE RELEVANT LAWS OF SUCH JURISDICTION\nPets at Home Group Plc: Appointment of CEO\nPets at Home Group Plc ('Company'), the UK's leading pet care business, is pleased to announce the appointment of James Bailey as Chief Executive Officer with effect from 30 March 2026.\nJames was most recently Managing Director of Waitrose, a position he held for over five years from April 2020. During his tenure, he led Waitrose to strong sales and profit growth, steering the business through the challenging Covid period and its immediate aftermath of high inflation. He also relaunched Waitrose.com after the company moved off the Ocado platform. Prior to his appointment at Waitrose, James held a number of senior roles over twenty years at J Sainsbury plc, including Grocery Buying Director.\nOn 18 September 2025, Ian Burke was appointed Executive Chair pending the arrival of a permanent Chief Executive Officer. Ian will revert to the role of Non-Executive Chair upon James' arrival and will then focus his efforts on supporting James through the transition period.\nThere are no other matters to be disclosed in respect of James Bailey pursuant to UK Listing Rule 6.4.8R.\nIan Burke, Chair of Pets at Home, commented:\n\"On behalf of the Board, I am delighted to announce the appointment of James Bailey as CEO of Pets at Home Group Plc.\nFollowing an extensive search process, the Board believes James' experience aligns well with the Group's ambitions for the coming years. His strong retail leadership skills will support the ongoing focus on improving Pets at Home's retail business, with significant operational and commercial experience leading both stores and online operations. My Board colleagues and I very much look forward to working with him.\"\nJames Bailey commented:\n\"I'm delighted to be joining Pets at Home, it's a business I've admired for a long time and one I believe has a very bright future. I look forward to working with the Board and to meeting and working with all of the Pets colleagues and partners.\"\nRemuneration\nJames Bailey's remuneration package will consist of a basic s...