Laroy Group has announced that Thomas Van Nielandt, who has worked in the pet sector for 15 years, will succeed the current CEO, Els Laroy. Laroy will remain active within the company as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Belgium-based family business in the pet sector, Laroy Group has announced the strengthening of its central management team. Thomas Van Nielandt succeeds current CEO, Els Laroy, and will be responsible for the day-to-day management and further development of the company. Major shareholder Els Laroy will remain active within Laroy Group as Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors. Furthermore, the leadership of the food and logistics activities will be integrated into a strengthened management team, the company explained.
Freshly appointed CEO Thomas Van Nielandt had been with Laroy Group for 1 year as Sales Director and has worked in the pet sector for 15 years. He held several senior management positions (Country Manager, Global Product & Brand Manager and Group Commercial Director) at Beaphar, a Dutch manufacturer of pet medicines and grooming products.
“We are delighted to work with Thomas, in this new role, to continue building the future of Laroy Group with our integrated management team,” said Els Laroy, current CEO passing on the torch. “Together with the Executive Board, we have carefully prepared this step and are confident that under his leadership we will take new steps to further strengthen our position in the market.”
“I am honoured to take on this new role and look forward to leading this fantastic family business. This is a dynamic time full of opportunities and I cannot wait to work with the strengthened management team and board of Laroy Group to realise our shared vision and create sustainable value for our customers, partners, employees and shareholders,” expressed Thomas Van Nielandt. “I strongly support this reinforcement. We are convinced that with this new management structure, we will give all departments of our company a voice in management and thus have all the levers in our hands to write a sustainable success story together.”
In addition to Laroy Group’s current other board members, current CEO Els Laroy, CFO Peter Moyaert and Director Purchase & Marketing Holger Passia, the group’s food manager, Bob Smitz, and logistics manager, Philippe Henderick, will also join the strengthened six-person management team led by the new CEO.
