PetMeds appoints Jeff Willard as CEO in a coordinated board transition
The online pet pharmacy is handing an e-commerce veteran a stated mandate to sharpen execution and return the business to sustainable growth and profitability.
By Good Company Editorial Desk
THE NEWS
PetMed Express, which operates PetMeds and owns PetCareRx, has appointed Jeff Willard chief executive officer and president, effective September 28. Willard also joins the board. He succeeds Leslie C.G. Campbell, who had served as interim CEO and president since August 2025 while chairing the board. Campbell is retiring as chair and director, and lead independent director Justin Mennen is becoming board chair.
THE NUMBERS
Willard brings more than 25 years of consumer and e-commerce leadership experience. He most recently served as CEO of Stewart-MacDonald, the online seller of guitar tools and parts. Earlier roles included chief growth officer and chief marketing officer at Casper, president of Healthy Lifestyle Brands and CEO of Zac Brown Collective. Campbell will remain a full-time strategic adviser for 60 days to support the handoff. PetMeds says its online pharmacy is licensed across all 50 states and serves dogs, cats and horses through prescription, over-the-counter, supplement and nutrition offerings.
WHY IT MATTERS
The selection points to an operating and customer-growth brief rather than a purely clinical one. PetMeds already has national reach, pharmacy infrastructure and a recognized direct-to-consumer brand. Its challenge, as framed by the company, is to convert that base into a clear path back to sustainable profitability and growth. Willard's mix of e-commerce, brand and operational roles matches that assignment, while the simultaneous chair transition separates day-to-day leadership from board oversight.
WHAT TO WATCH
The first useful indicators will be priorities, not slogans: customer retention, prescription fulfillment, marketing efficiency, technology reliability and the relationship between PetMeds and PetCareRx. Campbell's 60-day advisory period should preserve continuity, but it also creates a short window for Willard to set direction. The company has not attached financial targets or a turnaround timetable to the appointment, so investors and industry partners will look to upcoming filings and earnings commentary for measurable commitments.
Sources
PetMeds announcement via GlobeNewswire; GlobalPETS. Reporting is based on disclosed announcements and cited coverage; undisclosed terms and open questions are identified in the story.