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Joseph R. Sivewright has been named Nestlé Purina PetCare Chairman for America, while Nina Leigh Krueger has been named CEO and President effective January 1, 2021

Nestlé Purina PetCare has announced that Joseph R. Sivewright will be stepping down from his position as Chief Executive Officer, Nestlé Purina PetCare for America, effective January 1, 2021, and will be appointed Chairman. Sivewright will be succeeded by Nina Leigh Krueger, who will become CEO and President of Nestlé Purina PetCare for America. Krueger is currently President of Nestlé Purina PetCare US.

Krueger, a 27-year-old Purina veteran, becomes the eighth CEO in the company's history and Purina's first female CEO. Sivewright has been Nestlé Purina for the CEO of Americas since 2015 and has been instrumental in the success of Ralston Purina and Nestlé Purina since joining the company in 1985.

"Joe's depth of experience, sound judgment and ability to skilfully run a large organization have resulted in amazing growth and positioned Purina for a bright future," said Laurent Freixe, CEO of Nestlé Zone Americas. "Nina Leigh's business acumen, exceptional leadership and communication skills, and the ability to bring out the best in people make her the ideal successor to lead Purina for years to come."

After joining the company 35 years ago, Sivewright held increasingly senior positions in marketing for PetCare, Grains and New Products. He was appointed Vice President with roles in global marketing in 1995 and worked in the Global Strategic Business Unit following the takeover of Ralston Purina by Switzerland-based Nestlé SA in 2001.

Sivewright became head of Nestlé Purina PetCare Latin America in 2004 and transformed the business from a net loss business to high growth and high profitability.

Sivewright was named President of Nestlé Purina North America in 2011. Since then, the company's 2019 revenue has increased 30 percent to $ 9.4 billion / £ 7.2 billion. During that time, Sivewright drove a number of significant changes in the Purina business, including acquiring Merrick Pet Care in 2015 and building a robust e-commerce business that has seen significant growth.

Purina PetCare in America was a major contributor to Nestlé's overall performance during this period.

Nestlé Purina recently added three new factories to its US manufacturing facility. The company opened a new wet food factory in Hartwell, Georgia in November 2019. This year the company announced the construction of two new dry feed plants in Eden, North Carolina and Williamsburg Township, Ohio. By 2023, the company will produce high-quality pet food, treats and cat litter in 23 US factories.

Purina has developed many science-based nutritional innovations for pets under Sivewright, including Purina Pro Plan LiveClear, which reduces cat allergens. Purina Pro Plan Bright Mind, which improves cognition in older dogs; Ordinary Cats LightWeight Litter; and beyond natural pet food.

Sivewright has led the company to a more agile culture, which has resulted in a leaner, faster, and more competitive organization. During that time, Nestlé Purina has remained one of the "Best Places to Work" as rated by several St. Louis organizations and national organizations, including the Glassdoor website.

In his role as Chairman, Sivewright's primary responsibility will be managing a smooth transition with Krueger and providing strategic and operational support. In addition, he will continue to work with Purina's strategic sustainability initiatives and leading conservation partners and NGOs.

Krueger started her career at Ralston Purina in 1993 as a brand management intern before moving to the cat food marketing team the following year. After Nestlé bought the company in 2001, she led marketing integration for the Nestlé Purina team.

After several more successful years in pet food marketing, she moved to the cat litter department and was promoted to Vice President of Marketing in 2010. While there she led several notable innovations that drove the growth of the business, most notably Tidy Cats Lightweight Litter. The litter division is now a growth driver for Nestlé Purina.

In 2015, Krueger was appointed Chief Marketing Officer of Nestlé Purina US and in 2016 President of Nestlé Purina US.

"Nina Leigh is the perfect choice to lead this company into a successful future," said Sivewright. “During her 27-year Purina career, she has played an important role in our many successes at a time of great complexity in animal care. She has a proven track record of innovating and leading major global brands and initiatives.

"In addition, Nina Leigh has an established leadership history in which she brings out the best in our employees while keeping an eye on our Purina culture."

A 1983 graduate of Miami (Ohio) University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing, Krueger earned a Masters of Business Administration from Washington University's Olin School of Business in 1994. In 2017 she received a Distinguished Alumni Award from the Olin School. Krueger, a native of Louisville, Kentucky, lives with her family in the St. Louis area.

"I'm really honored to have this opportunity," said Krueger. “I look forward to working with our Purina team to accelerate our powerful momentum and build on our 90+ year history of making science-based dog and cat food, treats and cat litter that pet owners trust. We will continue to conduct our business safely and provide consumers with high quality nutrition that will help pets live longer and healthier lives. "