SAN DIEGO — The Honest Kitchen, a human-grade pet food company, announced April 30 the appointment of two new members to its board of directors — Kurt Schmidt and Steve Ball — effective immediately. According to the company, the appointments underscore its dedication to advancing pet health, innovation and strategic growth. 

Schmidt brings a wealth of experience to The Honest Kitchen, having held leadership roles at Kraft, Wrigley, Blue Buffalo and Nestlé. The company expects his expertise in driving growth and innovation to be invaluable to its continued expansion. 

“I am thrilled to be part of a company that is as passionate about pets and their wellbeing as I am,” he said. “The Honest Kitchen’s dedication to quality and whole-food ingredients is something I deeply admire, and I look forward to contributing to the company's success and growth in the years to come.”

Ball will leverage his experience at “I and love and you” and Zesty Paws to support The Honest Kitchen’s strategic growth. His forward-thinking approach to digital commerce and brand-building is set to play a crucial role in advancing the company’s mission of providing pet parents with high-quality pet foods. 

“The Honest Kitchen is at the forefront of innovation in the pet food industry, and I’m excited to bring my experience as a founder and operator to such a dynamic company,” he said. “Together, I believe we can make a significant impact on how people nourish their pets, making healthy, natural foods the standard.”

Will Lisman, chief executive officer of The Honest Kitchen, added, “We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Kurt and Steve to our board of directors. Their combined experience and industry insights will be instrumental in guiding The Honest Kitchen through our next phase of growth. Their strategic guidance will be key as we strive to maintain our leading edge in the market and uphold our commitment to delivering superior pet nutrition.”

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.