Exhibit 99.1
Covetrus Announces CEO and Chairman Transition
Benjamin Shaw steps down as CEO and president and will serve as a strategic advisor to the board of Covetrus. Board chair Wolin to assume role as acting CEO and president, lead independent director Laskawy to serve as board chair.
PORTLAND, Maine, October 22, 2019 – Covetrus (NASDAQ: CVET), a global leader in animal-health technology and services, today announced that Benjamin Shaw has stepped down as the company’s president and chief executive officer and will transition to a strategic advisor to the board. Benjamin Wolin, who currently serves as the company’s chair of the board, will assume the role of acting CEO and president. Philip A. Laskawy, the board’s lead independent director, will take over as board chair.
“Covetrus offers a compelling and transformative value proposition within the global animal health market, and Benjamin Wolin, with his deep expertise in public company management in the digital healthcare, pharmacy and technology space, is the right leader to help the company successfully focus and execute on its strategy,” Laskawy said.
“We also want to take this opportunity to thank Benjamin Shaw for his contribution as a founder of Vets First Choice and Covetrus. His entrepreneurial spirit and vision helped guide the company to this moment and we look forward to working with him as a strategic advisor.”
Wolin has extensive experience with public company leadership, as well as financial and operating expertise. Previously, he was the CEO and co-founder of Everyday Health, Inc., a communications and marketing platform for consumers, doctors and healthcare companies, and a member of its board of directors for 14 years. Through his career, Wolin has demonstrated significant skill and understanding working with manufacturers, specialty products and integrating to technology and services capabilities to drive value for practitioners and manufacturers. Today, Wolin is a member of the board of directors of Diplomat Pharmacy, Inc. where he serves as lead independent director of the board, member of the audit committee and chair of the nominating and corporate governance committee. He is also chairman of the board of Rockwell Medical, Inc.
“Through innovation and execution, we will deliver on the significant opportunity provided by our unique animal-health technology and integrated supply chain platform,” Wolin said. “We are taking action to focus and execute on a strategy that will propel this exciting and innovative company into the next phase of its evolution, while providing long-term value to our employees, shareholders, customers and partners.”
About Covetrus
Covetrus is a global animal-health technology and services company dedicated to empowering veterinary practice partners to drive improved health and financial outcomes.