Central Garden & Pet Co., Walnut Creek, Calif., has named Timothy (Tim) Cofer as CEO, effective Oct. 14, 2019. He will also join the company’s Board of Directors. Cofer succeeds George Roeth, who previously announced plans to retire from the CEO and Board posts at the end of the company’s fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 28, 2019.
The company also announced that Founder and former CEO Bill Brown has been re-appointed Chairman of the Board. He succeeds Brooks M. (Sonny) Pennington III, who will remain on the board.
The company said Cofer brings over 30 years of business leadership experience across general management, corporate strategy, marketing, sales, R&D, and innovation in the consumer products industry. He most recently worked for over 25 years at Mondelēz International, where he held a variety of executive positions, including Executive Vice President and Chief Growth Officer. He also held leadership roles in key Kraft Foods U.S. businesses as President, Oscar Mayer Foods, and President, Kraft Pizza Co. Cofer received his MBA from the University of Minnesota and earned a B.A. in economics and political science from St. Olaf College.