American Pet Products Associations Names New CEO

The American Pet Products Association (APPA) – the leading trade association serving the interests of the pet products industry since 1958 – has announced that Peter Scott has been appointed CEO, effective Aug. 15, 2022.

A proven leader with more than 20 years of experience, Scott has served as CEO of the American Academy of Optometry since 2019. Prior to that, he spent more than six years as Chief Operating Officer of the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and advancing veterinary professionals worldwide.

“APPA is extremely pleased to welcome Peter, a seasoned association executive, to the team. We are confident he is well positioned to lead the Association as it continues to grow, succeed and elevate the global pet care community,” said Chuck Latham, chairman of the APPA board and founder of H&C Animal Health. “On behalf of the entire board, I would also like to extend our sincere gratitude to board member Bob Merar for his leadership and contributions during his time as interim CEO.”

Scott has developed a reputation for executing transformational change, driving product innovation and building strong cultures of empowerment and accountability that consistently exceed expectations. His ability to merge creative strategy, business acumen and governance has earned him the ear of those at some of the world’s largest organizations, including Microsoft, Wyndham, Mars, Kraft, the Federal Reserve Bank, Procter & Gamble, Target, PwC, Deloitte, Nielsen, The Canadian House of Commons and Saudi Arabian Capital Markets Authority.

“As those in the pet industry know, we are not only a part of a market-leading and constantly growing industry – reaching a record $123 billion in sales in 2021 – but also a thriving community that aims to lift each other up and help each other succeed,” said Scott. “I look forward to working alongside the APPA team, our members and other industry partners and stakeholders to continue promoting responsible pet ownership and play a small role in this amazing industry’s achievements moving forward.”

Throughout his career, Scott has earned numerous awards and accolades, including the PRSA Silver Anvil and Radiance Awards, Brand Hall Excellence in eLearning Award, multiple Forbes Best of Web and Webby Awards, as well as the Technology and Learning Magazine’s Award of Excellence. Most recently, he was recognized as one of Orlando Business Journal’s CEOs of the Year in 2021. Scott earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stetson University and an MBA from Nova Southeastern University. He is a certified association executive (CAE) and accredited in public relations (APR).

APPA is renowned for its mission to promote responsible pet care and advance the pet products industry. Throughout its more than 60-year history, APPA has built a network of members across large corporations and growing business enterprises worldwide. The trade association is made up of nearly 1,000 pet product manufacturers, their representatives, importers and livestock suppliers. APPA, along with the Pet Industry Distributors Association (PIDA), co-produces Global Pet Expo, featuring thousands of new product launches in the pet and animal health space.