PIJAC Elects Petmate VP as New Board Chair

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The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council announced Ken Oh, vice president of sales for Petmate, was unanimously elected as PIJAC’s new board chairman.

Prior to taking on this one year position, he had served on the PIJAC board of directors for the past two years.

“Ken understands the challenges the pet industry faces as legislative threats multiply and the potential adverse effect on the entire industry,” Mike Canning, president and CEO of PIJAC, said. “A true animal advocate, he has the respect of his colleagues in the pet industry and will lead them as PIJAC grows its capabilities to protect the industry from unnecessary regulation.”

Oh previously served as vice chairman on the American Pet Products Association Board, as well as board member of the Pet Care Trust. As the vice president of sales and marketing at JW Pet, Oh supervised independent sales groups, as well as the in-house sales and marketing managers.

“Throughout its history, PIJAC has never wavered in its mission to ensure the availability of pets, foster environmental stewardship and promote responsible pet ownership,” Oh said. “Pet owners, by definition, are passionate and at times will disagree on matters great and small. As an organization, we have made tremendous strides in attempting to find common ground for the pet owning public and the pet industry.”

The other new officers appointed include: 1st Vice Chair  Jeff Sutherland, president of Animal Supply Company; 2nd Vice Chair Rolf Hagen, president and CEO of Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. and Secretary/Treasurer Andy Ponte, vice president of North American sales for United Pet Group.

In addition, PIJAC welcome three new board members:  Greg Cyr, senior vice president/general manager, Central Garden & Pet; Ryan Boyle, vice president sales/operations, HuntePuppies.com and Chris Fleming, CEO, Mid America Pet.