Pets at Home has appointed a new chief operating officer of retail.

David Robinson joins the Handforth-headquartered company with a wealth of experience in the retail industry, including spending the past two years as managing director of Bestway Retail.

He also spent 15 years at Home Retail Group, most recently as chief operating officer for Argos, where he ran day-to-day operations and played a key role in the digital transformation of the business.

At Pets at Home, Robinson will report to chief executive Peter Pritchard who said: "Following Robert Kent's appointment as chief data officer only a few weeks ago, we are making another strategically important and senior level appointment who will be critical to achieving our goal of becoming the world's best pet care business.

"David has proven strength in running operations across a diverse group of retailers and his experience leading the digital transformation at Argos will be hugely valuable in our pursuit to make Pets at Home an increasingly digitally-led business."

Robinson added: "Pets at Home is a much-loved brand and industry leader, which is uniquely positioned to deliver the full range of pet care to owners across the UK.

"I'm very excited to be joining the team at a time when the business is moving towards a more integrated, digitally lead approach, where I can help deliver on its ambitions to be the world's number one pet care business.”

Meanwhile, Jane Balmain has rejoined the Pets at Home vet business after previously establishing the joint venture Companion Care in-store vet model in 2001 and then growing the business before retiring in 2014. Also reporting to Pritchard, she will remain with the company for next twelve months whilst also helping Pets at Home to find a permanent leader for the vet group. Pritchard will continue to manage the vet group's specialist referral business.

Pritchard added: “Jane was responsible for establishing the in-store Companion Care joint venture model and growing the business successfully and sustainably through her tenure. Jane is well known by many of our joint venture partners and vet group colleagues, and we look forward to benefiting from her expertise and support over the coming months."

Jane Balmain commented: “I’m both pleased and proud to have been asked to return to the Vet Group as Interim CEO of First Opinion business. This was an easy decision for me, not only do I believe it’s an amazing business, but it’s also one that I am hugely passionate about. I’m looking forward to meeting our Joint Venture Partners and the team at the Support Office, and seeing some familiar faces once again. Over the next twelve months I will be focusing my time on listening to Partners and colleagues in the business, improving our service levels to practices and making the changes necessary to grow the business successfully and sustainably.”