New CDO at Pets at Home

Robert Kent is new group chief data officer at Pets at Home.

The leading UK pet product retail group Pets at Home has appointed Robert Kent as group chief data officer. Kent joined the business from Royal Mail Group, where he was chief data officer for nearly eight years and head of programme delivery for two years.

Prior to this, he held senior roles at Carphone Warehouse, including head of IT, as well as strategic roles at Epiphany UK and Capgemini. Peter Pritchard, group chief executive officer of the retail group, describes the position of Kent: "Pets at Home is a specialist retailer that has been very successful in the UK pet market. Now is the time for the business to take the next step towards becoming a world-class pet care provider, which will need a more integrated, fast-moving approach to meet pet owners' needs.

Andrei Balta, chief executive officer of the Vet Group, will leave the business after seven years with both the veterinary and retail businesses. Kent will temporarily assume the role of Vet Group CEO.