Paws and profits: Showcasing the latest promotions in the veterinary industry

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Exceptional leadership in the veterinary sector profoundly impacts the quality of pet care and enhances the professional growth of their teams. Cultivating a culture of progression and staying well-informed of the latest developments in veterinary medicine, industry leaders can help maintain the standards and excellence in pet healthcare.

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

Sharon Fernandez CEO, Independence Pet Holdings

Sharon Fernandez is now the new chief executive officer of Independence Pet Holdings (IPH), a pet insurance organization for North America. She has over 25 years of insurance industry expertise, having previously served as the CEO Insurance and Corporate COO at Buckle Insurance. Prior roles include president of Farmers Commercial Insurance, president of Bristol West Insurance, and executive vice president of operations at Farmers Insurance.¹

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to lead IPH at this exciting time," Fernandez stated in a news release. "With a full stack of resources, capital, and services that support a multi brand and omni channel approach, our talented leadership team is ready to take our brands and services to the next level to create a better future for pets and pet parents."¹

"I'm excited to announce the appointment of Sharon, which helps further our mission of building a better future for pets and pet parents," said Dirk Beeckman, CEO of JAB Pet Holdings, an affiliate of IPH. "With Sharon's extensive experience and proven results in the financial services industry, we're well-positioned to continue building and elevating products and solutions to simplify the pet parenting journey and improve the well-being of pets."¹

Fernando Delgado, chief growth officer, Bond Vet

Fernando Delgado was appointed as Bond Vet’s chief growth officer (CGO) and joins the veterinary clinic network with over 20 years of marketing and business experience. His past roles span across multiple industries, including retail and hospitality, pharmaceuticals and life sciences, and consumer packaged goods. Delgado’s most recent position was as the global head of marketing at CSL Plasma.²

“I am incredibly excited to join such a mission-driven team dedicated to providing an outstanding client experience and great patient care,” said Fernando Delgado, CGO, in a release. “I look forward to bringing Bond Vet’s exceptional services to more clients and pets as we expand nationwide.”²

“I’m thrilled to welcome Fernando to Bond Vet,” said Garrett Lewis, CEO of Bond Vet. “Fernando has spent his career focusing on customers and how brands can best serve them. I’m confident he’s the right person to bring our exceptional service to more clients and pets, ultimately growing Bond’s impact in both new and existing communities we serve.”²

Adrianna Smith, president of Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association

Adrianna Smith, DVM, is now the Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association’s 2024 president. Smith is from Chicago and received her DVM degree from Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine in 2012. After 3 years in general practice, she redirected her efforts towards community and shelter medicine. As a Louisiana SPCA member, she splits her time between community and shelter clinics and in times of disaster, Smith participates in response teams providing medical treatment, transport aid, veterinary relief, and community assistance.³

Michael Kascask, vice president of talent acquisition, CityVet

Michael Kascask has joined the CityVet team as the vice president of talent acquisition. His most recent role, before joining CityVet was Head of SWE Sourcing for Google, North America and he has 20 years of previous experience in executive leadership roles within talent acquisition and recruiting.⁴

“I’ve always loved pets and animals, so it is serendipitous that at this point in my career I’ve been given the opportunity to move into a new industry that marries my talent acquisition experience with an industry that is near and dear to me,” Kascask stated in the CityVet release.⁴

At CityVet, Kascask will play a key part in aiding the company's expansion and his responsibilities include formulating strategies to enhance the efficiency of hiring processes and optimize them as the brand undergoes growth. This will entail facilitating the recruitment of new DVMs, veterinary technicians, and clinic staff to accommodate the opening of new locations.

“Michael brings a depth of knowledge about talent acquisition to CityVet and we are thrilled for him to join our growing team,” said CityVet CEO David Boguslawski. “We were impressed by his diverse background in various industries and are confident that his experience with skillfully managing the candidate journey to yield the best results for applicants and companies aligns perfectly with our goals as we continue to expand our footprint.”⁴

Kevin DeWalt, president of CASCO Pet US

Previously serving as the vice president of sales for CASCO Pet, Kevin DeWalt will now be the president of the company’s US business. DeWalt has been with the pet and veterinary company for almost 10 years and has thus far increased sales growth, expanded the customer base, and led successful teams.⁵

"It’s a great honor to have been promoted to President at CASCO Pet, and I am very excited about the new opportunities this promotion will present. As a sales-driven leader, I look forward to working alongside our team in this new capacity on innovative and thought-leading products that are revolutionizing pet wellness globally and delivering real value to our customers,” DeWalt stated in the company’s news release.⁵

"Kevin has been instrumental in growing our US operations over the past decade, and delivered impressive sales growth as our Vice President of Sales. This promotion is a recognition of his considerable contribution and expertise. With his passion for innovation and dedication to our customers, I am confident the business will go from strength to strength under his leadership,” said CEO, Matthew Bubear.

References

1. Independence Pet Holdings names Sharon Fernandez chief executive officer. News release. Independence Pet Holdings. February 13, 2024. Accessed March 1, 2024. https://prnmedia.prnewswire.com/news-releases/independence-pet-holdings-names-sharon-fernandez-chief-executive-officer-302061124.html
2. Fernando Delgado joins Bond Vet as chief growth officer. News release. Bond Vet. February 15, 2024. Accessed March 1, 2024. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240215332745/en
3. LVMA announces installation of 2024 association president. News release. Louisiana Veterinary Medical Association. January 30, 2024. Accessed March 1, 2024.
4. CityVet announces Michael Kascask as vice president of talent acquisition. News release. CityVet. February 22, 2024. Accessed March 1, 2024.
5. CASCO Pet promotes Kevin DeWalt to president of our US business. News release. CASCO Pet. January 26, 2024. Accessed March 1, 2024. https://cascopet.com/us/the-world-of-casco-pet/our-blog/casco-pet-promotes-kevin-dewalt-to-president-of-our-us-business/