Pets at Home has announced the appointments of David Robinson as chief operating officer of retail and Jane Balmain as interim chief executive of the Vet Group’s First Opinion business.

Mr Robinson joins Pets at Home with a wealth of experience in the retail industry, including the past two years as managing director of Bestway Retail.He also spent 15 years at Home Retail Group, most recently as chief operating officer for Argos, where he ran day-to-day operations and played a key role in the digital transformation of the business. He has also held senior roles at Homebase and Dixons Retail. Mr Robinson will report to Peter Pritchard, Pets at Home Group’s chief executive, and will join the business in 2019.

Ms Balmain will rejoin the Vet Group, having established the Joint Venture Companion Care in-store vet model in 2001 and growing the business successfully before retiring in 2014. She started her role immediately, reporting to Mr Pritchard, and has committed to the next 12 months whilst also supporting our search for a permanent leader of the Vet Group.

Mr Pritchard said: “I am delighted that David will be joining us. Following Robert Kent’s appointment as chief data officer only a few weeks ago, we are making another strategically important and senior level appointment, who will be critical to achieving our goal of becoming the world’s best pet care business.

“David has proven strength in running operations across a diverse group of retailers and his experience leading the digital transformation at Argos will be hugely valuable in our pursuit to make Pets at Home an increasingly digitally-led business.”

Mr Pritchard continued: “I’m also thrilled to be welcoming Jane Balmain back to the group. Jane was responsible for establishing the in-store Companion Care Joint Venture model and growing the business successfully and sustainably through her tenure. Jane is well known by many of our Joint Venture Partners and Vet Group colleagues, and we look forward to benefitting from her expertise and support over the coming months.”