Subscription-based raw pet food company Bella & Duke has appointed James Sturrock as its new chief executive.
Sturrock joins Bella & Duke after overseeing periods of growth at brands such as Moonpig and Eve sleep, and most recently as group ceo at flooring retailer Tapi Carpets & Floors.
Former ceo and co-founder Mark Scott has moved to a non-executive director role within the company, which has just enjoyed a record year with more than 15 million of its meals delivered in the UK. Scott founded Bella & Duke with Tony Ottley in 2016, and has seen the business expand from just two people in Blairgowrie to 133 employees. Bella & Duke was recently named Manufacturer of the Year at the Pet Industry Federation Awards 2023.
Sturrock commented: “Joining Bella & Duke and taking on the role of chief executive is a privilege and incredibly exciting. It has been fantastic to witness the growth of the company in the past seven years, since Mark and Tony founded it in 2016, and my role will focus on building on this momentum.
“Having started my Spaniel on Bella & Duke and seeing the health improvements first hand, I’m excited to get the message out to other pet owners about the benefits of raw nutrition, attracting new customers to the category, and building on our incredible loyal community.”
Scott added: “Since starting Bella & Duke with Tony back in 2016 it has been a long but incredibly rewarding experience seeing our vision grow year on year, and I will still be heavily involved in the business.
“As a business that is purpose-led, with an incredible team and loyal community, it was really important to us to protect that, which is why James was the perfect choice with his excellent experience and customer centric approach.”
