Golden Child has appointed former Grüns President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Connor Stastny as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) on 29 July. The appointment brings an executive with experience scaling direct-to-consumer brands and leading high-growth businesses to the pet wellness company. It will further strengthen the leadership team as the fresh petfood company prepares for its next stage of expansion.
Stastny most recently served as President and CFO of Grüns, a direct-to-consumer nutrition and supplement brand acquired by Unilever in a transaction valued at US$1.2 billion. He joined Grüns as CFO before being promoted to President in early 2026. He led organisational execution while continuing to build the company’s finance and data infrastructure.
According to Golden Child, he also helped complete the Unilever acquisition without the use of an investment bank. Before Grüns, Stastny held C-suite leadership positions at Byte, a direct-to-consumer orthodontics company acquired for more than US$1 billion within two years of its market launch.
In his new role, Stastny will focus on expanding Golden Child’s core product portfolio, attracting talent and the operational systems required to support long-term growth. The company said his experience in building scalable organisations and consumer subscription businesses aligns with its ambition to establish itself as a leading premium pet wellness brand.
Golden Child Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer Quentin Lacornerie said the company sought a leader who shared its mission of making pet parenthood “easier, happier and healthier” while bringing the operational expertise needed to scale the business.
Stastny said he was drawn to the opportunity to improve the lives of dogs and their owners, adding that the company’s scientific approach to nutrition and long-term health made the role particularly compelling. He added that “I’m a believer in businesses that support universal flourishing, and research shows dog ownership is associated with a 24 percent reduction in all-cause mortality in humans”, and they would like to make an impact with effortless dog ownership with a solution like Golden Child.
Founded in 2025 by Quentin Lacornerie and Jack Abraham, Golden Child develops chef-crafted fresh dog food formulated by veterinary nutrition specialists. Its product range combines complete fresh meals, marketed as ‘Mains’, with functional ‘Drizzles’ designed to enhance palatability while supporting gut health, joint function, cellular vitality and coat condition.
Stansy joins the company’s founding team, which includes a board-certified veterinary nutritionist, a nutrition scientist, a classically trained chef and a fresh food supply chain specialist.
The executive appointment reflects Golden Child’s continued investment in leadership and operational capabilities as the premium fresh petfood segment is overdue for transformation.