Pet Food Institute to Install New Board for 2027-28
The trade association will begin a new leadership term to set advocacy priorities for the industry.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in People
The Pet Food Institute has appointed a new slate of board officers for the 2027-28 term. Reed Howlett, CEO of The Wellness Pet Company, will serve as board chair.
Why it matters
Leadership appointments at industry trade associations signal the shifting strategic priorities for sector advocacy, regulatory engagement, and supplier standards. For operators in the pet food industry, these shifts determine the focus of future lobbying and collaborative efforts.
The new leadership slate comprises six officers for the 2027-28 term, replacing the prior board roster. The Pet Food Institute board includes newly appointed officers such as vice chair Liz Mascolo and treasurer Yvonne Hsu.
The players
Reed Howlett
The newly appointed chair of the Pet Food Institute board and CEO of The Wellness Pet Company, an entity producing natural pet food products.
Pet Food Institute
A national trade association representing pet food manufacturers and suppliers in the United States.
Liz Mascolo
The incoming vice chair of the Pet Food Institute board.
Yvonne Hsu
The incoming treasurer of the Pet Food Institute board.
Scott Salmon
The immediate past chair of the Pet Food Institute board.
The details
The board chair works directly with executive officers and members to guide industry-wide collaboration and organizational advocacy. These officers hold the responsibility of steering the Pet Food Institute through its 2027-28 strategic cycle, coordinating board activities, and representing the interests of member companies in the U.S. pet food market.
Timeline
The Pet Food Institute board officer term covers the 2027-28 period.
Market Landscape
This appointment follows the established annual cycle of leadership turnover within the Pet Food Institute. It maintains the organization's structure of rotating industry executives to oversee its national advocacy agenda.
Operators should monitor the upcoming 2027-28 policy statements from the Pet Food Institute to understand shifting compliance and regulatory stances. Tracking board-level objectives can provide an early indicator of how the industry will approach upcoming federal and state supply chain regulations.
The takeaway
The appointment of a new chair signals a reset in industry advocacy priorities for the 2027-28 term. Businesses should track meeting minutes or public announcements from the board to identify potential changes in standards or regulatory positions that may impact operational compliance.
Further reading
For more on industry leadership shifts, visit People.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Petfood Industry Community.
