Mars, Inc. has announced the appointment of two new General Managers for its Petcare businesses in the UK, Ireland, and the Nordics. Nick Foster, who previously led Royal Canin in the UK and Ireland, will now take the helm at Mars Pet Nutrition for these regions. Meanwhile, James McGrath has expanded his role from General Manager of Royal Canin Nordics to include the UK and Ireland.
Nick Foster joined Royal Canin in 2022 and has been recognised for enhancing engagement with various stakeholders. During his tenure, he implemented a digital acceleration program that improved team capabilities and strengthened e-commerce partnerships. A graduate of Mars’ program since 2006, Foster has held several leadership roles within the company.
Foster expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “After my time with the incredibly talented team at Royal Canin, I’m very excited to be returning to lead Mars Pet Nutrition as General Manager UK, Ireland and Nordics. Having started my career at Mars on our graduate programme almost 20 years ago, it’s a privilege to lead this business into its next chapter, continue to deliver our purpose: A better world for pets, and to serve a new generation of pet parents 90 years after Mars started its journey in the pet care category in the UK.”
James McGrath, who joined Mars in 2009, has accumulated diverse experience in supply chain, marketing, and sales. He has held multiple leadership roles, most recently as General Manager for Royal Canin Nordics since September 2024. McGrath is known for his customer-oriented approach and commitment to teamwork.
He remarked, “Having spent the last nine years working across different parts of Europe, it feels meaningful to take on a General Manager role in the unit where I started – and it’s testament to the investment and support that Mars offers.
At Royal Canin, our health and nutrition expertise helps us to achieve our purpose: A Better World for pets. It’s a mission we live every day, whether through our long-term relationships with partners like Medical Detection Dogs, fostering close partnerships with pet professionals or the millions of pets we serve with tailored nutrition each year through our retail partners. The UK & Ireland team is hugely passionate about the pets we serve, and I’m looking forward to playing a role in the business’s exciting growth journey.”
