Paws and profits: Promotions and appointments in the veterinary industry

Veterinary businesses and organizations are important for promoting pet health. These organizations can integrate medical knowledge, compassionate care, and beneficial management practices. Quality leadership can influence the standard of pet care and lead to the professional growth of team members. Furthermore, leaders in the veterinary industry have the opportunity to cultivate a culture of innovation, ensuring that their practices remain aligned with the most recent developments in veterinary science, technology, and medicine.

Various veterinary businesses and organizations recently announced new promotions and appointments. The following individuals are among those making career advancements:

Cindy Gill, MBA, field veterinary business development manager, PetVivo Holdings, Inc

Cindy Gill, MBA. (Photo courtesy of PetVivo Holdings, Inc)

PetVivo Holdings, Inc, recently appointed Cindy Gill, MBA as field veterinary business development manager for Oklahoma, Arkansas, and the northern region of Texas. Previously, Gill was an outside sales representative for Lintbells, Ltd—developer of YuMove—, inside sales representative for Midwest Veterinary Supply and Merck, and a veterinary technician.

“Cindy’s experience and strong record of sales achievement with veterinary clinics brings to our sales team a valuable resource for achieving our business goals,” John Lai, PetVivo CEO, said in a company release.¹ “Her experience with other veterinary products and her knowledge of clinic operations enables her to prioritize and better address the veterinarians and clinics in our sales pipeline.”

Gill obtained her Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science, Agriculture, Agriculture Operations, and Related Sciences from West Texas A&M University in Canyon, Texas. She earned her Master of Business Administration in Animal Science from the same university. In her new role, Gill will Gill work to increase the sales of PetVivo’s Spryng with OsteoCushion Technology joint health product.

Kirk Haggard, MBA, CEO, Independence Pet Holdings

Kirk Haggard, MBA. (Photo courtesy of Independence Pet Holdings)

Independence Pet Holdings announced Kirk Haggard, MBA, its new CEO. Prior to his new position, Haggard was interim CEO of Independence Pet Group. "It's an exciting time to join this dynamic organization. The leadership teams are ready to take our brands and services to the next level and the category continues to grow and provide new opportunities to create a better future for pets and pet parents,” said Haggard in an organizational release.²

Haggard holds 37 years of experience in the insurance industry, having worked at Allstate, Bank of America, and most recently at USAA, where he served as the senior finance officer for the Property and Casualty Insurance division. According to Independence Pet Holdings, Haggard has knowledge in strategy development, operational efficiency, sales and marketing effectiveness, and talent development.

"The appointment of Kirk marks an important milestone in our strategic vision and helps further our mission of building a better future for pets and pet parents," said Dirk Beeckman, CEO of JAB Pet Services Global—whose controlled affilitate is IPH—in the release.² "Kirk has already made meaningful contributions to the business through his leadership at Independence Pet Group, and we are excited by his vision to move the company forward and continue its recent momentum.”

Sanjay Singh, chief financial officer, Wellness Pet Company

Sanjay Singh. (Photo courtesy of Wellness Pet Company)

Sanjay Singh was recently named Wellness Pet Company’s chief financial officer (CFO). Prior to his appointment, Singh was a finance and strategy consultant. He also held the position of US CFO at Qurate Inc and had a 20-year international career at Procter & Gamble.1 Singh holds a bachelor's degree from St. Xavier's College in Calcutta, India, and is a Chartered Accountant from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in India. At Wellness Pet, Singh is part of the executive leadership team, where he focuses on driving financial results, overseeing financial planning and analysis, and managing corporate finance and investor relations.

"Wellness Pet recognizes the importance of operational excellence and brand building to drive long-term, profitable growth," Singh said in a news release.³ "The company's dedication to a shared life of wellbeing for pets and pet parents inspires us all to pursue sustainable growth and a shared respect for the industry. I'm thrilled to be joining a team of motivated industry professionals at Wellness Pet and look forward to making meaningful contributions to its long-term goals."

"As we continue to pursue our company's purpose, we're focused on innovative strategies to enhance our product offerings and achieve outstanding business performance," said Wellness Pet CEO Reed Howlett, in the release.³ "Sanjay brings world-class credibility, leadership and financial fluency that will enhance long-term value creation, operational efficiency and discipline as we continue to deliver premium nutrition for pets."

Erin Achilles, VMD, DACVIM (Cardiology) and Heather Ashcraft, DVM, DACVR (Radiation Oncology) at Schwarzman Animal Medical Center

The Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) recently welcomed several new senior veterinarians to its team at the largest veterinary teaching hospital in the world. Below are 2 of these new professionals who will be joining AMC.

Erin Achilles, VMD, DACVIM (Cardiology) earned her veterinary medicine degree from the University of Pennsylvania, after which she participated in a rotating internship at AMC. Achilles then pursued a 1-year specialty research internship, followed by a 3-year residency program at the same university. Additionally, she is board certified in cardiology by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.⁴

Heather Ashcraft, DVM, DACVR (Radiation Oncology) obtained her veterinary degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in St Kitts, Basseterre, and began her career as a general practice veterinarian at Banfield Pet Hospital in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She then completed an internship in small animal medicine and surgery at BluePearl Veterinary Partners in Grand Rapids, Michigan, followed by a residency in radiation oncology at UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine in California. In 2022, Heather achieved board certification in Radiation Oncology.⁴

References

1. PetVivo Engages Another Top Sales Manager, Cindy Gill, for Regional Business Development Manager, as Adoption of Breakthrough Animal MedTech Device Continues to Spread Nationwide. News release. PetVivo Holdings, Inc. October 21, 2024. Accessed November 1, 2024. https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2024/10/21/2966300/0/en/PetVivo-Engages-Another-Top-Sales-Manager-Cindy-Gill-for-Regional-Business-Development-Manager-as-Adoption-of-Breakthrough-Animal-MedTech-Device-Continues-to-Spread-Nationwide.html
2. Independence Pet Holdings Names Kirk Haggard Chief Executive Officer. News release. Independence Pet Holdings. October 16, 2024. Accessed November 1, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/independence-pet-holdings-names-kirk-haggard-chief-executive-officer-302277115.html
3. Sanjay Singh Joins Wellness Pet Company as Chief Financial Officer. News release. Wellness Pet Company. October 23, 2024. Accessed November 1, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sanjay-singh-joins-wellness-pet-company-as-chief-financial-officer-302283920.html
4. Schwarzman Animal Medical Center Welcomes Over a Dozen New Senior Veterinarians in New York City, Adding to a World-Class Medical Team Working Across 20+ Specialties. News release. Schwarzman Animal Medical Center. November 1, 2024. Accessed November 1, 2024. [email]