BEDMINSTER, N.J., June 24 — Freshpet, the refrigerated pet food company, announced today that its President and Co-Founder Scott Morris will step away from day-to-day operating responsibilities on October 20, the company’s 20th anniversary.
Mr. Morris will remain available to the company in an advisory capacity for 18 months following the transition. His innovation duties will be handed over to a newly created Chief Innovation Officer role, a position Freshpet plans to fill.
Taking over as President will be Nicki Baty, the company’s current Chief Operating Officer. Ms. Baty joined Freshpet two years ago as part of a leadership succession plan that has been in the works for several years. In her expanded role as President and COO, she will continue reporting to Chief Executive Officer Billy Cyr.
Her responsibilities will include overseeing Freshpet’s commercial operations and its supply chain.
The company also announced the immediate promotion of Thembi Machaba, currently Chief Human Resources Officer, to the additional role of Chief Administrative Officer. In her expanded capacity, Ms. Machaba will take on oversight of Freshpet’s sustainability initiatives, community relations, property management, corporate security, and key management processes.
This transition comes as Freshpet enters its third decade with what the company describes as a strong leadership team in place.
For patients — or in this case, investors and employees — the encouraging part is the deliberate, multi-year planning behind the move. Succession plans that are years in the making tend to signal stability rather than disruption. Early findings from corporate governance research suggest that structured leadership transitions often support smoother operational continuity.
The company’s co-founder will remain on hand as an advisor, which should provide a reassuring bridge for the leadership team. Ms. Baty, who has been with Freshpet for two years, now steps into a role that combines both the presidency and her existing operational duties.
Shareholders and stakeholders watching this story should keep an eye on how the new Chief Innovation Officer role takes shape, as that position will absorb Mr. Morris’s innovation responsibilities. The company has not yet named who will fill that post.
As always, anyone making decisions based on corporate leadership changes should talk to their financial advisor.
