Central Garden & Pet Co leadership

William E. Brown, 84, founded the Company and has served as a Director since 1980. He has been Chairman of the Board since September 2019 and previously served as Chairman from 1980 until February 2018, and was Chief Executive Officer from 1980 to 2003 and again from 2007 until 2013. He brings extensive management and leadership experience and deep knowledge of the lawn & garden and pet supplies industries.

Courtnee Chun, 51, has served as a Director since 2021. She served as Senior Advisor to Liberty Media Corporation until January 2024 and, until January 2023, was Chief Portfolio Officer for Liberty Media Corporation, Qurate Retail, Inc., Liberty TripAdvisor Holdings, Inc., Liberty Broadband Corporation and GCI Liberty, having joined Liberty Media in February 2008. She has broad experience in eCommerce, media, technology and direct-to-consumer marketing, with a strong background in M&A, portfolio management and investor relations.

Brendan P. Dougher, 63, has served as a Director since 2020. He served in executive roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP for 36 years, including as Managing Partner of the NY Metro Region from July 2006 until June 2019 and most recently as Managing Partner of the US Cyber Security & Privacy Practice from January 2019 to September 2019. As a former senior partner of one of the Big Four audit firms, he brings strong leadership experience across financial reporting, governance, strategy and regulatory matters, and he serves as chair of the Company's Audit Committee.

Nicholas Lahanas, 57, has served as a Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since September 2024. From May 2017 until that appointment he served as the Company's Chief Financial Officer, and he previously held a series of finance roles at Central including Senior Vice President of Finance and CFO of the Pet Segment, Vice President of Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis, Director of Business Performance and Finance Manager in the Garden Segment. Before joining Central he worked in private equity and investment banking, and he has deep M&A experience helping lead the Company's acquisitions.

Randal D. Lewis, 59, has served as a Director since December 2024. He is currently principal of L&C Management, a management consulting firm, and previously served as Chief Operating Officer of Spectrum Brands Holdings, Inc. from October 2018 to December 2022 and Executive Vice President from September 2019 to December 2022, with direct responsibility for all of Spectrum's operating divisions. He brings extensive operational management experience and deep knowledge of the pet and home & garden supplies industries, along with substantial M&A experience.

Christopher T. Metz, 60, has served as a Director since 2019. He has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of Solo Brands, Inc. since January 2024, and previously was a director and Chief Executive Officer of Vista Outdoor Inc. from October 2017 through January 2023, President and CEO of Arctic Cat Inc. from December 2014 to March 2017, and a Managing Director of private equity firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc. from 2005 to July 2014. He brings extensive experience leading global consumer products companies and a background in private equity.

Brooks M. Pennington III, 71, has served as a Director since 1998. He is co-owner of Pennington & Pennington, LLC, served as the Company's Chairman from February 2018 to September 2019, and was Director of Special Projects for the Company from October 2006 through March 2023; from 1994 through September 2006 he was President and CEO of Pennington Seed, Inc., which the Company acquired in 1998. He has over 45 years of work experience in the lawn & garden supplies industry.

John R. Ranelli, 79, has served as a Director since 2010 and served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer from February 2013 to May 2016 and as Acting Principal Financial Officer from February 2016 to September 2016. His prior roles include Chairman of the Board (and briefly CEO) of Woolrich, Inc., CEO and President of Mikasa, Inc., and Chairman, CEO and President of FGX International, along with senior executive roles at Stride Rite, Deckers Outdoor, TLC Beatrice and The Timberland Company. He brings deep knowledge of the Company and extensive experience leading mid-sized to large consumer products companies.

Mary Beth Springer, 61, has served as a Director since 2013 and serves as the Company's lead independent director (October 2020 to October 2023 and again beginning October 2024), having also served as Interim Chief Executive Officer from October 2023 to September 2024. She previously served as Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Clorox Company and held a series of senior marketing and general management roles at Clorox from 1990. She brings significant experience in general management, marketing, sales and branding for public consumer products companies.

Bradley G. Smith serves as the Company's Chief Financial Officer, appointed effective September 29, 2024, the first day of fiscal 2025, succeeding Nicholas Lahanas in the role. He is one of the Company's named executive officers for fiscal 2025; in recognition of his new responsibilities the Compensation Committee approved a 22% increase in his base salary to $450,000 for fiscal 2025.

John Hanson serves as President, Pet Consumer Products and is one of the Company's named executive officers for fiscal 2025. His fiscal 2025 base salary was set at $568,000.

John D. Walker serves as President, Garden Consumer Products and is one of the Company's named executive officers for fiscal 2025. His fiscal 2025 base salary was set at $567,000.