LISBON, OHIO — On June 3, Dave Kowal was named chief executive officer of BrightPet Nutrition Group, a premium pet food and treat producer currently owned by Alvarez & Marsal Capital Partners (AMCP) affiliates. AMCP acquired BrightPet in October 2020.

Kowal is a food industry veteran who brings “decades of experience” to his new role, according to the company. He succeeds Matthew Golladay, former president and a third-generation stakeholder in BrightPet, who will now transition to a role in which he will work to expand manufacturing opportunities.

“Dave is an incredibly skilled executive and we are thrilled to have him join our leadership team,” said Matthew Golladay, former president and third-generation stakeholder at BrightPet. “In addition to his wealth of relevant knowledge and experience, he brings an energy and skillset that aligns well with our appetite for substantial future growth. We are looking forward to working with him while we continue to grow BrightPet. We believe Dave’s food industry knowledge and experience will help us continue to strengthen our product offerings and the services we offer to our valuable customer base.”

Most recently, Kowal served as president of Champion Foods, a private-label and store-brand food industry manufacturer, where he saw the company’s compound annual growth rate rise to 17%. Kowal has also served as operating partner at Huron Capital Partners, president of Little Caesars Fundraising, chief executive officer and president of Distant Lands Coffee Company, president of US bakery products at Dawn Food Products, and director of marketing for national accounts, food service and bakery at The Pillsbury Company.

“I am excited to be joining the team at such an important, transformative moment in BrightPet’s history,” Kowal said. “With the acquisition of MiracleCorp in January, the BrightPet team has done a remarkable job of continuing its rapid expansion of the manufacturing and distribution footprint of its impressive roster of trusted brands. I plan to bring my expertise to bear as we continue to drive growth on all fronts.”

Ryan McCarthy, partner at AMCP, added, “We partnered with the BrightPet team to help grow the business through strategic acquisitions, expansion of the Company’s sales channels and product portfolio, and an increase in its market penetration – and we expect to continue this work in close partnership with Dave Kowal. We are focused on supporting BrightPet to further expand support for existing customers, accelerate growth, and attract top talent from around the pet food industry.”

BrightPet is the parent company of Blackwood, Adirondack and By Nature pet food and treat brands. The company also owns three contract manufacturers: Ohio Pet Foods, BNG Phoebe and Southern Tier Pet Nutrition. The company distributes across the United States and in international markets.

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.