The chief executive of Pets at Home is to leave the business next summer after 11 years with the firm, it has been announced.
Peter Pritchard joined the Cheshire-headquartered retailer in 2011 as commercial director and worked his way up to his current role in March 2018.
The move comes after the listed company confirmed its pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of September are set to be at the top end of City expectations.
READ MORE: Majority stake in MediaCity acquired by commercial property giant Landsec for £425m
Pets at Home also confirmed that a search for Mr Pritchard's successor will begin both internally and externally.
He will be paid his salary and bonuses for the rest of the year - his pay was £2.1 million last year - and will also be entitled to cash in some of his long-term share plans as the board consider him a "good leaver".
Mr Pritchard said: "Having completed everything that I set out to achieve in 2018, next summer is the right time to take well-earned rest and to hand over the reins to a new leader who will continue this journey."
During his tenure, he expanded the business's interests in additional services including vets and grooming salons and helped create a loyalty scheme which now has 6.5 million active members.
He also invested £20m in updating the retailer's digital business and brought sales up to £1bn during the pandemic for the first time in its history.
Pets at Home enjoyed a strong pandemic because stores remained open due to being classed as an "essential" retailer.
It also saw strong growth from a boom in pet ownership during lockdown, with new owners looking to pamper their animals with top-of-the-line products and food.
The robust sales led to the company handing back £30 million in business rates relief during the pandemic.
Business continues to grow and the company also revealed "the strong performance witnessed across both parts of the business during the second half of last year has continued throughout the past six months".
