American Pet Products Association Announces New Board Member

APPA Home / Events & News / Press Release
April 9, 2020

(Stamford, Conn.) Steve King, CEO of the American Pet Products Association (APPA), is pleased to announce that Chanda Leary-Coutu has been elected to serve on the board as a director.  

Leary-Coutu is director, consumer experience and marketing communications for WellPet, a leader in natural pet nutrition with brands including Wellness®, WHIMZEES®, Old Mother Hubbard®, Sojos®, Holistic Select® and Eagle Pack®. With 14 years of experience in the pet care community, she’s a proven communications and marketing leader with extensive knowledge in global, local and omni-channel marketing, internal and external communications and digital marketing and social media. 

“On behalf of the APPA team, we’re proud to welcome Chanda and believe she will be a tremendous asset to the board,” said King. “Chanda’s marketing expertise coupled with her passion for supporting and promoting responsible pet ownership, makes her the ideal candidate to continue elevating the board and its efforts to serve not only the association but the entire pet industry.”     

Leary-Coutu said, “I’m honored to serve among this group of some of the industry’s top professionals and key thought-leaders. With the ever-changing world we live in today, it’s critical that the pet care community continue to evolve. As someone who is not only dedicated to serving WellPet’s mission to make sure all pets are born, bred and raised with love, I’m also a passionate pet parent and am truly looking forward to doing my part as a board member to positively contribute to the future of this thriving industry.” 

Leary-Coutu has been closely involved with Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI) and has participated in initiatives led by the Pet Sustainability Coalition (PSC). Additionally, she leads WellPet’s Wellness Foundation and partnership with Best Friends Animal Society, and serves on the board of directors for the Better Business Bureau of New England. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications/Marketing from Boston College and a Master of Science in Communications from Boston University. Additionally, she participated in the Graduate Certificate Program at MIT Sloan in Cambridge, MA, where she earned a certificate in Digital Business Strategy. Leary-Coutu is a proud pet parent to two dogs, a toy aussiedoodle named Annabelle and a Sheltie she rescued named Stanley, in addition to her rescue cat Brownee. 

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The American Pet Products Association (APPA) is the leading trade association serving the interests of the pet products industry since 1958.  APPA membership includes more than 1,100 pet product manufacturers, their representatives, importers and livestock suppliers representing both large corporations and growing business enterprises.  APPA's mission is to promote, develop and advance pet ownership and the pet product industry and to provide the services necessary to help its members prosper. APPA is also proud to grow and support the industry through the following initiatives: Pets Add Life (PAL), Tony La Russa’s Animal Rescue Foundation (ARF) Pets and Vets Program, the Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI), the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC), Bird Enjoyment and Advantage Koalition (BEAK), and the Pet Care Trust.  Visit www.americanpetproducts.org for more information.

 

Contact

Contact: Jamie Baxter
The Impetus Agency
775-322-4022
jamie@theimpetusagency.com