Executive Management

Richard Maltsbarger is a member of the Board, and President & Chief Executive Officer of the Company. Since joining Pet Valu in November 2018, his leadership team has shaped the modernization of the Company’s technology platform, including the launch & expansion of its e-commerce capabilities and led the completion of Pet Valu’s Initial Public Offering in June 2021. Prior to joining Pet Valu, Mr. Maltsbarger held multiple senior positions at Lowe’s Companies over a 14-year period, most recently serving as Chief Operating Officer for United States Operations and previously serving as President of International (Canada and Mexico) where he oversaw expansion through Canada with the acquisition of RONA, and as Chief Development Officer where he had oversight of strategy, mergers & acquisitions, analytics and innovation. Mr. Maltsbarger currently serves as Chair of the Audit & Risk Committee on the National Board of Trustees for the National 4-H Council. Mr. Maltsbarger earned a Bachelor of Science and a Master of Science in Agricultural Economics from the University of Missouri and a Master of Business Administration from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, Missouri.

Linda Drysdale is Chief Financial Officer of the Company. Prior to joining Pet Valu in March 2023, Ms. Drysdale was Chief Financial Officer of Interac Corp., Canada’s leading payment services provider. Prior to taking on this role in 2020, she held positions of increasing responsibility with Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited (Retail), BCE Inc., PwC, and Deloitte & Touche, LLP. Ms. Drysdale has over 25 years of extensive knowledge in finance, risk management and audit functions, and a decade of experience reporting to boards of directors and board audit committees as a Chief Financial Officer and senior Internal Audit executive. Ms. Drysdale earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the University of Waterloo and a Graduate Diploma in Accounting from Wilfrid Laurier University.

Gaylyn Craig is Senior Vice President of Corporate Store Operations, overseeing all the Company’s 200+ corporate stores, including operations support, communications, events and loss prevention. Prior to her appointment to this role in November 2022, Ms. Craig held various positions of increasing responsibility within the Corporate Store Operations team since joining Pet Valu in May 2014. She has also held store operations management positions at Aritzia, where she supported entry into the Quebec market, and Starbucks Coffee Canada, where she supported entry into the Toronto market.

Tanbir Grover is the Chief Marketing and Digital Officer of the Company, having responsibility of the Company’s omni-channel marketing, e-commerce and marketing analytics, including the Company’s loyalty program. Prior to joining Pet Valu, Mr. Grover served as Vice President, Digital at the Co-operators Group Limited from January 2020 to November 2020. Prior to that, he held a number of different roles at Lowe’s Canada from 2011 to 2020 where he most recently served as Vice President of e-commerce and Omnichannel. Mr. Grover also held senior digital and marketing positions at the Hudson’s Bay Company and Sears Canada. Mr. Grover earned a Bachelor of Commerce from McMaster University and a Master of Business Administration from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto and is a graduate of the Not for Profit Directors Education Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors at the University of Toronto.

Catherine Johnston is the Chief Legal Officer, General Counsel & Secretary of the Company, with oversight of the Company’s legal affairs. Prior to joining Pet Valu in February 2021, Ms. Johnston was an independent consultant from May 2019 to January 2021. Prior to this, Ms. Johnston was Vice President, Assistant General Counsel & Assistant Secretary at KIK Custom Products from April 2015 to May 2019 and Assistant General Counsel from October 2013 to April 2015. She has also held the position of Corporate Secretary & Legal Counsel at Brookfield Asset Management Inc. and Assistant Secretary & Legal Counsel at Canadian Tire Corporation, Limited. Ms. Johnston earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from Osgoode Hall Law School, an Honours Bachelor of Arts degree from University of Toronto and is a graduate of the Directors Education Program at the Institute of Corporate Directors at University of Toronto.

Kendalee MacKay is the Chief Merchandising Officer of the Company, with oversight of the merchandising, proprietary brands and demand and inventory replenishment departments. Prior to joining Pet Valu in June 2020, from October 1994 to March 2020, Ms. MacKay held multiple positions with Loblaw Companies Limited, including Vice President of Grocery and Health Beauty – Discount Division, Vice President of Merchandising Competition Law Compliance, Vice President of Loblaw Brands, and most recently as Vice President Merchandising and Business Development at Shoppers Drug Mart. Ms. MacKay earned a diploma in Business Information Processing and Business Information Technology from the Nova Scotia Community College.

Christine Martin-Bevilacqua is the Chief Administrative Officer of the Company having served in such role in October 2011, with oversight of the human resources, franchise sales, real estate and risk departments. Ms. Martin-Bevilacqua joined the Company in 2002 as Vice-President, Human Resources and has held various positions of increasing responsibility since that time. Ms. Martin-Bevilacqua earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) from the University of Windsor, and a Master of Human Resource Management from York University.

Nico Weidel is the Chief Supply Chain Officer of the Company, with oversight of the Company’s omni-channel supply chain operations and procurement. Prior to joining Pet Valu in June 2022, Mr. Weidel held multiple senior positions at the Hudson’s Bay Company from 2016 to 2022, and most recently served as Senior Vice President, Supply Chain & Logistics. Prior to that, he held senior positions at the CHRIST Jeweler and Watchmaker, a division of Douglas Holding and Arvato Supply Chain Solutions in Germany. Mr. Weidel earned a Master of Science in Logistics, focussing on Business Administration, Supply Chain Management, and Industrial Engineering at the Technical University of Dortmund.

Adam Woodward is Senior Vice President of Franchise Store Operations, overseeing relations with the Company’s franchisee owners who cumulatively operate over 400 stores under the Pet Valu family of banners, across all regions outside of Quebec. Prior to his appointment to this role in November 2022, Mr. Woodward held various positions of increasing responsibility within the Franchise Store Operations team since joining Pet Valu in April 2011. He has also held store operations management and franchise development positions in the food service and family entertainment sectors. Mr. Woodward earned his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at York University and a diploma in human resource management at Seneca College.