CEO OF THE WEEK: Jun 13, 2003 Phil Francis PETsMART Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
PETsMART was faltering and the stock price was trading at just over $2 when Phil Francis joined the company. But Francis' plans for the company went beyond strengthening the fundamentals. He introduced new services for pets -
including grooming, boarding and even on-site veterinary care -- that have led to satisfied pet owners and a healthy stock prices.
Philip Francis: Bio and Career Highlights Age: 56
Education: Francis holds a B.S. in agriculture from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Indiana University.
Resume: Before joining PETsMART as president and chief executive officer in March 1998, Francis was president and chief executive officer of Shaw's Supermarkets Inc. and corporate vice president of wholesale for Roundy's Inc.
Corporate Culture Board of Directors: Excluding Francis, all board members are independent.
Stock options: The company does not expense stock options.
Charity: PETsMART will donate more than $5 million this year to various animal not-for-profit organizations, and local humane societies are given space for adoption centers in PETsMART stores.
"We're not selling dogs and cats because there are too many, and we do not want to add to that problem. But we are saving a life and creating a customer at the same time."
What I'm most proud of
"We are writing the book on taking what was a product-driven business model....pet food and supplies, and adding on top of that or into it services."
