Royal Canin has strengthened its Healthy Pet and Pet Specialty strategy with the appointment of Kira Best to a leadership role. The move reflects a focus on portfolio growth, digital capability, and evolving pet owner expectations.
Royal Canin, one of the global leaders in pet health nutrition and one of the billion-dollar brands of Mars, Incorporated, has promoted Kira Best as General Manager, Healthy Pet & Pet Specialty. In her new role, Best reports to Daryn Brown, Regional President of Royal Canin North America.
The Royal Canin Healthy Pet portfolio includes Breed Health Nutrition and Size Health Nutrition, featuring targeted diets such as French Bulldog, Labrador Retriever, and German Shepherd formulas for puppies and adult dogs. Best brings more than 10 years of leadership experience within Royal Canin and most recently served as Vice President of E-commerce & Digital.
“I’m thrilled to take on a new role supporting our healthy pet portfolio and serving more cats and dogs across North America,” said Kira Best. “Pets have become such a valuable part of our families, and how we feed them feels personal. It’s a tremendous privilege to help meet the evolving needs of pet owners, and I’m looking forward to leading this team as we prioritize pet health through nutrition.”
During her tenure at Royal Canin, Best has led the development of e-commerce strategies focused on demand generation and productivity, contributing to a more digitally driven organization. Her leadership has helped enhance Royal Canin’s digital capabilities and priorities, driving more loyalty through subscription offerings and fueling growth with major e-commerce retailers.
“Kira’s leadership and contributions have been valuable to our brands and our North American Leadership Team,” said Daryn Brown, Regional President of Royal Canin North America. “Her passion and expertise will continue elevating our healthy pet portfolio, driving our business forward while also serving our Purpose: A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS.”
Best holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration in Marketing Management, with a minor in Communications, from the Walton College of Business at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas. She is based in Franklin, Tennessee, where she lives with her husband, Gabriel, their son, Gabriel III, and their pet gecko, Ditto.
