Bella & Duke has  announced the appointment of James Sturrock as Chief Executive. The news comes as former CEO and co-founder Mark Scott moves to a non-executive director role.

Following a record-breaking year as the UK’s leading subscription raw pet food company, delivering over 15 million of its meals across the UK in 2023, Sturrock will lead the company as it moves to its next chapter of growth and development. Looking to 2024 and beyond, Bella & Duke will continue on its mission to bring healthier eating to the UK’s pets by educating on the benefits of a raw diet, and further growing its customer base.

Sturrock joins Bella & Duke with a wealth of experience overseeing periods of growth in revenue and profitability with disruptor brands Moonpig and Eve sleep, and most recently overseeing the digital transformation and significant growth as Group CEO at flooring retailer Tapi Carpets & Floors. Sturrock joins Bella & Duke to support the company in achieving its ambitious goals in the industry.

Mark Scott, who Founded Bella & Duke with Tony Ottley in 2016, has seen the business expand from just two people at Blairgowrie to 133 employees and was named among the Most Ambitious Business Leaders in the UK, as one of just five businesses in Scotland named in the 2023 LDC Top 50 list. The LDC Top 50 list celebrates the entrepreneurs reshaping the way business is done, to address the needs of a rapidly changing world.

Bella & Duke were also named Manufacturer of the Year 2023 at the recent Pet Industry Federation Awards 2023, having brought manufacturing in house only 2 years ago. The industry awards recognise and celebrate excellence within the pet industry, showcasing the remarkable individuals and businesses who uphold the highest standards of quality that drive the industry forward. 

James Sturrock commented: “Joining Bella & Duke and taking on the role of Chief Executive is a privilege and incredibly exciting. It has been fantastic to witness the growth of the company in the past seven years, since Mark and Tony founded it in 2016, and my role will focus on building on this momentum. Having started my Spaniel on Bella & Duke and seeing the health improvements first hand, I’m excited to get the message out to other pet owners about the benefits of raw nutrition, attracting new customers to the category, and building on our incredible loyal community. I’ve always been an advocate of finding improved solutions to consumer problems, so joining Bella & Duke to educate pet owners on the benefits of raw feeding and changing perceptions felt like a perfect fit.”

Mark Scott, Founder at Bella & Duke, said; “Since starting Bella & Duke with Tony back in 2016 it has been a long but incredibly rewarding experience seeing our vision grow year on year, and I will still be heavily involved in the business. As a business that is purpose-led, with an incredible team and loyal community, it was really important to us to protect that, which is why James was the perfect choice with his excellent experience and customer centric approach. This is an incredibly exciting time for the business, and I’m delighted to be welcoming James to Bella & Duke as we embark on our next chapter.”  

For more information on Bella & Duke, visit: https://www.bellaandduke.com/join-our-team/