STAMFORD, CONN. — The American Pet Products Association (APPA) on May 31 appointed Peter Scott to chief executive officer, effective Aug. 15.

Scott has more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles, serving as chief executive officer for the American Academy of Optometry and chief operating officer of the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC), a nonprofit supporting veterinarians and the veterinary industry.

“APPA is extremely pleased to welcome Peter, a seasoned association executive, to the team,” said Chuck Latham, chairman of the APPA board and founder of H&C Animal Health. “We are confident he is well positioned to lead the association as it continues to grow, succeed and elevate the global pet care community.

“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,” Latham added.

With experience at Microsoft, Wyndham, Mars, Kraft, the Federal Reserve Bank, Procter & Gamble, Target, PwC, Deloitte, Nielsen, The Canadian House of Commons and others, Scott will use his experience in product innovation, transformational change and business empowerment, and accountability in his new role at APPA.

“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,” Scott said. “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 Scott’s career, he has earned numerous awards, including the PRSA Silver Anvil and Radiance Awards, the Brand Hall Excellence in eLearning Award, various Forbes Best of Web and Webby Awards. Recently, Scott was recognized as Orlando Business Journal’s Chief Executive Officer of the Year in 2021.

Scott has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Stetson University and a master’s degree from Nova Southeastern University. He is also accredited in public relations and is a certified association executive (CAE).

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.