Matt Simister reorganises management team

100 days after his appointment as Group CEO of Fressnapf | Maxi Zoo, Matt Simister has finalised the composition of his management team, the company announced in a press release on 10 December. The new management structure is designed to provide clear support for the company's strategic direction and ensure the smooth implementation of its international growth strategy. It reflects the increasing operational complexity of a rapidly expanding European business and creates clearly defined responsibilities in all regions and functions.

The Group CEO has appointed Patrick Bontenakels and Sven Girmendonk as Managing Directors for international markets. While Bontenakels will take responsibility for Central and Eastern Europe, Girmendonk will be responsible for Western Europe. The country managers of the respective regions report directly to them. Both represent the countries on the Executive Management Board together with Norbert Marschallinger, Managing Director Germany, and Guillaume Seneclauze, Managing Director Italy at Arcaplanet, who continue to have direct mandates.

In addition, according to the Krefeld-based pet retail chain, the area of responsibility of Chief Operating Officer Daniel Behlert will be expanded so that he will be responsible for the entire end-to-end operational business in future. These changes complement the existing executive functions: Chief Customer Officer, Chief Product Officer, Chief Human Relations Officer and Chief Transformation Officer. In addition, Florian Wieser will join the Executive Management Board as Chief Financial Officer on 1 January 2026.

The new structure will strengthen the position of the countries in the top management body, the head office explains in its announcement. It reflects the size and complexity of the European business and creates a balance between the countries and the group functions within the Executive Management Board.

‘Our Executive Management Board is now clearly aligned with our growth strategy,’ said CEO Simister. ‘I am particularly pleased that we have been able to develop strong internal talent with Patrick, Sven and Daniel.’ The new management team will strengthen responsibility and ownership in all markets, bring clarity to the operating model and ensure ‘that we can further expand our position as Europe's leading omnichannel retailer in the pet sector’.

The company's shareholders have decided that the chairmanship should be filled independently at the level of the Board of Directors. This decision has been taken in order to ensure balanced representation of all shareholder interests. Also effective from 1 January 2026, Dr Peter Breuer, former senior partner at McKinsey and a member of the Board of Directors since 2024, will assume the role of Chairman. Breuer has extensive experience in retail and consumer goods, and has worked closely with the company on numerous strategic projects.

‘With Peter Breuer as Chairman, the Board of Directors can provide the best possible support to Group CEO Matt Simister and his management team while securing the ambitious growth course,’ clarified Torsten Toeller, who will remain an active member of the Board of Directors: ‘I can now focus even more strongly on the long-term strategic direction of the company.’

Other members of the Board of Directors are: Folkert Schultz, Maxim Crewe and Rebecca Hunter. Interim CEO Peter Pritchard is now devoting himself to other strategic priorities outside Fressnapf | Maxi Zoo. Toeller expressed his gratitude for the contribution and support received ‘during this significant phase of transformation.’