PIJAC elects a new board

Ken Oh, vice president of sales for Petmate, was unanimously elected as new board chairman at the last board meeting of the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). He has served on the board of directors for the past two years. Ken Oh previously served as vice chairman on the American Pet Products Association (APPA) board as well as board member of the Pet Care Trust. As vice president of sales and marketing at JW Pet, he supervised independent sales groups as well as in-house sales and marketing managers. Prior to JW Pet, he served as director of brand marketing for United Pet Group, business unit manager for Tetra, and vice president of marketing for Perfecto Manufacturing, Inc. The other new officers appointed include Jeff Sutherland, president of Animal Supply Company (1st vice chair), Rolf Hagen, president and CEO of Rolf C. Hagen, Inc. (2nd vice chair) and Andy Ponte, vice president of North American sales for United Pet Group (secretary/treasurer). In addition, PIJAC welcomes 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. Three board members were re-elected at the meeting: Michael Peterson of the Pet Group, Laura “Peach” Reid of Fish Mart, and Jim Seidewand of Pet World. Elected chairman in 2009 following Frank Koch’s term, Jim Heim will continue to remain active in the organisation and provide assistance on a regular basis.