Blue Buffalo Hires New Research and Development Leader

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Blue Buffalo Company announced that Greg Reinhart, PhD, has joined the company as senior vice president, Research and Development. Reinhart will lead the Blue Buffalo research and development team that is responsible for clinical studies, upstream technology development, product innovation and scientific communications.

Reinhart comes from The Mathile Institute, a non-profit group focused on the nutritional health of children, where he applied his experience in companion animal and human health care industries to help alleviate hunger and malnutrition worldwide. Prior to the 9-year stint in the Mathile organization, he was responsible for technology development at Procter and Gamble’s global Pet Care business unit and The Iams Company before the acquisition by Proctor and Gamble.

“Dr. Reinhart has an impressive R&D background in animal and human nutrition,” said Bill Bishop, founder and chairman of Blue Buffalo. “Greg is passionate about enhancing the health of dogs and cats, and we’re excited about the scientific capabilities he brings to our growing business in both pet specialty retail and veterinary-exclusive, therapeutic diets.”

Reinhart will work with the R&D team at the company’s home office in Wilton, Connecticut, and the Blue Buffalo Heartland plant in Joplin, Missouri. He will also provide leadership during the construction of the company’s new research and D development technical center and manufacturing plant in Richmond, Indiana, a $150 million investment in product supply and innovation.

“I am thrilled to bring my experience in scientific, evidence-based research to a company that is solely focused on the well-being of dogs and cats,” Reinhart said. “It is a professional privilege to join the pet lovers at Blue Buffalo who provide nutritional advances that are most valued by clients and the veterinarians who care for their companion animals.”

Reinhart’s research interests include fatty acid metabolism, fiber fermentation, nutritional immunology, obesity and the role of nutrition on cognition and well-being. During his tenure at The Iams Company, he organized multiple Iams Nutrition Symposia, which remain the largest international gathering of veterinary professionals, scientists and academicians dedicated solely to the sharing of new scientific findings in canine and feline nutrition.

Reinhart has published more than 230 scientific papers and abstracts in peer reviewed journals, is the co-editor of “Recent Advances in Canine and Feline Nutrition, Volumes II and III,” and an inventor on 14 U.S. patents.

Reinhart is an alumnus of The Ohio State University where he received a bachelor of science degree in animal science, a master of science degree in non-ruminant nutrition and PhD degree in nutritional biochemistry. In 2014, the Department of Animal Sciences at Ohio State elected Reinhart into its Hall of Fame for scientific contributions to the pet food industry and his influence on reducing childhood malnutrition. He is a fellow of the American College of Nutrition and an active member in other professional scientific organizations.