Central Garden & Pet Names Apur Patel Chief Legal Officer

Core Viewpoint - Central Garden & Pet Company has appointed Apur Patel as Chief Legal Officer, effective January 26, 2026, succeeding George Yuhas who is retiring [1][2][3] Group 1: Appointment Details - Apur Patel will oversee all legal matters including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, securities and compliance, litigation, intellectual property, and enterprise risk management [2] - Patel has over 30 years of global experience in legal roles across consumer packaged goods, technology, and healthcare, previously serving at The Clorox Company as Vice President & Deputy General Counsel [3][4] Group 2: Leadership Transition - Niko Lahanas, CEO of Central Garden & Pet, expressed gratitude towards George Yuhas for his interim role and welcomed Apur Patel, highlighting his experience in aligning legal strategy with business priorities [3] - Patel is recognized for his executive presence and ability to build high-performing legal teams [4] Group 3: Company Overview - Central Garden & Pet Company is a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries, with fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.1 billion [6][7] - The company has a diversified portfolio of market-leading brands and employs over 6,000 people, primarily in North America [7]