STAMFORD, CONN. — The American Pet Products Association (APPA) announced new board positions and a new board member for 2025 on May 1. 

Todd Regan, general manager of Central Specialty Pet at Central Garden & Pet, has been named board chair. Regan has more than 25 years of experience in the consumer-packaged goods industry, and for the last 15 years he has held several leadership roles at Central Garden & Pet. During his career with Central Garden & Pet, Regan has overseen various categories, from aquatic and reptile to small animal, pet bird and wild bird. Previously, he worked with the Milk-Bone brand when it was part of Kraft-Nabisco.  

Regan holds a bachelor’s degree from Providence College and an MBA from the University of Maryland.

Savina Singh, chief executive officer of JoJo Modern Pets, has been named APPA secretary/treasurer. Singh brings a diverse background in healthcare in software to the pet industry. She founded JoJo Modern Pets in 2012, growing the company to become a leading independent manufacturer, importer and distributor of pet products, serving more than 2,000 independent pet stores throughout the United States. 

Singh holds an MBA from the Illinois Institute of Technology and a master’s from Thunderbird School of Global Management. 

“Working with the APPA board to support an industry I’m deeply passionate about is an exciting opportunity,” Singh said. “I look forward to continuing our work helping drive innovation and growth for our members and the broader pet industry.”

Oliver Knesl, director and medical lead of the pet care pain portfolio, Global Medical Affairs at Zoetis, has joined APPA’s board. Since joining Zoetis in 2006, he has held several global leadership positions and currently serves as the veterinary director for companion animal pain therapeutics. 

Knesl holds a Bachelor of Veterinary Science degree from the University of Pretoria, South Africa and is a member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. He also has degrees in zoology, physiology, wildlife management and environmental geochemistry, as well as credentials in canine and feline endocrinology, and emergency and critical care. 

“I’m honored to join the APPA board and contribute to an organization that plays such a vital role in advancing the pet care industry,” Knesl said. “Supporting the health and wellbeing of pets and the people who care for them has always been a passion of mine, and I look forward to helping drive meaningful impact through APPA’s important work.”

Regan added, “On behalf of the entire association, I would like to extend a warm welcome to our new director. Oliver brings a wealth of veterinary expertise and global industry experience that will be an incredible asset to the APPA Board. His deep commitment to animal health and the human-animal bond aligns perfectly with our mission, and we look forward to his contributions as we continue to support the pet community.”

In addition to the above, APPA’s board includes Tommy Baroody, vice president of sales North America at Nestlé Purina Petcare; Kevin Fick, advisor to the board at PetWise, Inc.; and Josh Patterson, vice president of Sales US at Montego Pet Nutrition. 

Read more news from associations and agencies in the pet food sector.