ST. CHARLES, MO. — Mars, Incorporated’s Royal Canin brand announced the appointment of Heather Pasquale to general manager of the US Vet Business Unit for Royal Canin North America effective July 1. In her new role, Pasquale will serve as a member of the Royal Canin North America leadership team.

Pasquale originally joined the Mars family of brands in 2017, during which she led a region of nearly 200 hospitals for Banfield Pet Hospital. She then joined Royal Canin in 2022 and led Vetsource International, during which she developed an independent, online vet pharmacy and deployed it into new markets.

Prior to joining Mars, Pasquale held various roles at CVS Health Including registered pharmacist, regional healthcare manager, district manager and regional sales manager. 

“Our business and our partners will benefit greatly under Heather’s leadership, which will leverage her vast experience across the veterinary industry both regionally and globally,” said Daryn Brown, regional president of Royal Canin North America. “She not only understands our current business and industry, but she has a keen understanding of future trends and will help our customers prepare for upcoming needs in pet care. Heather is committed to making ‘A Better World for Pets’ and the veterinary industry as a whole.”

In her new role, Pasquale will lead Royal Canin North America’s veterinary business, growing the business by strengthening its relationships with veterinary customers, expanding its product offerings and providing educational opportunities. She succeeds Jean-Lin Pelatan, who has been named general manager of Global Business-to-Business Platform at Royal Canin’s global headquarters in Aimargues, France. 

“I could not be more excited to join the Royal Canin North America team, specifically to lead the Vet Business Unit for the United States,” Pasquale said. “I am confident my experiences across Mars and those roles prior to joining Mars prepared me for this great honor and challenge. With the amazing team already in place, I know we are going to make a tremendous impact on pets and the people who care for them.”

Pasquale has a Bachelor of Science degree from Albany College of Pharmacy. She will be based out of Newark, NJ, with her husband and their dog, Quinn-Henri, and cat, KK. 

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.