Petco issued the following announcement on Oct. 10.

Petco announced it has appointed accomplished human resources executive Michelle Bonfilio as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). At a transformative time for both Petco and the retail industry overall, investing in an engaged, empowered and fulfilled workforce is one of the company's key growth strategies.

"Our knowledgeable, pet-loving employees (we call them partners) are this company's single greatest asset and a key differentiator for our business," said Petco CEO Ron Coughlin. "Michelle is known for developing progressive HR strategies and fostering diverse, cohesive, high-impact cultures that promote both employee engagement and business success. I'm excited to welcome her to our leadership team and confident her point of view will be invaluable as we work to further tap into our team's distinctive passion and unlock Petco's full potential."

Petco operates more than 1,500 retail locations and employs more than 26,000 people across the U.S., Mexico and Puerto Rico. As CHRO, Michelle will be responsible for driving a people-first HR strategy that is grounded in the company's vision and values, and directly correlated to Petco's business roadmap.

"As a pet parent myself, I share the passion and dedication that Petco partners have for animals — an attribute that's inherent to the company's long history and a powerful driver of the brand's success," said Bonfilio. "I look forward to helping this team harness that passion to fuel ongoing success and a culture that allows all of us to achieve both individual and collective objectives."

Bonfilio brings more than 20 years of experience translating business objectives into comprehensive HR strategies and initiatives that drive transformational growth. Prior to joining Petco, she served as CHRO for The Wine Group, LLC, the second-largest global producer of wine in the United States. Previously, she held senior leadership roles at Delta Dental of California, Big Heart Pet Brands and Gap, Inc.

Bonfilio holds a bachelor's degree in psychology from the University of California, Davis. Starting on Oct. 22, she will be based at the company's National Support center in San Diego and will report directly to Coughlin.

Original source can be found here.