Board of Directors

Founder and Former CEO, Central Garden & Pet 
Director Since: 1980
Board Committee Membership: Executive Committee, Investment Committee

Mr. Brown has served as Chairman of the Board of Central from 1980 until February of 2018 and since September 2019 and as Chief Executive Officer from 1980 to 2003 and from 2007 until 2013.

Mr. Brown founded Central and has extensive management and leadership experience and deep knowledge of the lawn & garden and pet supplies industries and the financial and operational issues faced by Central.

Former Chief Portfolio Officer, Liberty Media Corporation
Director Since: 2021
Board Committee Membership: Audit Committee, Investment Committee

Ms. Chun spent 16 years at Liberty Media Corporation. In 2023, she served as Senior Advisor and prior to that she 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. Previously, Ms. Chun served as VP Opportunity Development at Level 3, Chief Financial Officer at New Global Telecom and prior to these roles, gained extensive transaction experience through corporate development work at FirstWorld Communications and investment banking at J.P. Morgan. She also serves as a director for J.Jill, Inc. and previously served as a director of HSN, Inc., Expedia Group, Inc., and LendingTree, Inc.

Ms. Chun has broad-based experience in a number of industries including eCommerce, media, technology, and direct-to-consumer marketing, and a strong background in M&A, portfolio management, and investor relations.

Executive Coach, Leadership Development and Board Advisor
Director Since: 2021
Board Committee Membership: Audit Committee, Compensation Committee; Talent, Capabilities and Succession Committee

Ms. Coleman has more than 25 years of experience in talent management and development including executive coaching, leadership development, leadership and succession planning, and talent acquisition. Since January 2010, she has provided executive career coaching and board advisory through her firm Lisa Coleman Advisory Services. Before starting her firm, Ms. Coleman served as Managing Director, Head of Leisure and Hospitality Practice, member of the Consumer and Private Equity Practices, and Head of Research Americas at Russell Reynolds Associates, where she led business development, executive search, and organization assessments for consumer sector clients. Prior to that, she served as the Human Capital Partner at Maveron, a venture capital firm, and spent five years at Korn/Ferry International as Partner, Retail Practice, and Head of eCommerce.

Ms. Coleman has expertise in CEO and senior management succession planning, human capital management, leadership development, and talent acquisition and broad-based experience in a number of industries including leisure & hospitality, private equity, retail, and eCommerce.

Former Managing Partner and Board Member, PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP
Director Since: 2020
Board Committee Membership: Audit Committee

Mr. Dougher served in executive roles at PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP ("PwC") for 36 years including as Managing Partner of the NY Metro Region of PwC from July 2006 until June 2019 and most recently as Managing Partner of the U.S. Cyber Security & Privacy Practice from January 2019 to September 2019. 

As a former senior partner of one of the Big Four audit firms, Mr. Dougher has strong leadership experience in a wide variety of financial matters including reporting, governance, strategy, and regulatory matters.

Former Vice Chairman, Activision Blizzard
Director Since: 2019
Board Committee Membership: Compensation Committee; Investment Committee; Talent, Capabilities & Succession Committee

Mr. Griffith served as Vice Chairman of Activision Blizzard, Inc., a worldwide online, personal computer, console, handheld, and mobile game publisher, from March 2010 to August 2016 and served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Activision Publishing, Inc. (prior to its merger with Blizzard Entertainment, Inc.), from June 2005 to March 2010. Previously, he served in various executive positions at the Procter & Gamble Company, a multinational consumer goods corporation, including as President of the Global Beverage Division, Vice President and General Manager of Coffee Products, and Vice President and General Manager of Fabric & Home Care – Japan and Korea and Fabric & Home Care Strategic Planning – Asia. He is also a director for Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc.

As a former senior executive of one of the leading multinational consumer products companies, Mr. Griffith brings extensive experience leading and managing many aspects of large consumer products companies.

Chief Executive Officer, Central Garden & Pet
Director Since: 2024

Niko Lahanas became Chief Executive Officer of Central in September 2024. From 2017 until he became CEO, Mr. Lahanas served as Chief Financial Officer of Central. He joined Central in 2006 and has held a variety of finance positions within the Company, including Senior Vice President of Finance, Operations Management & Reporting, Chief Financial Officer of the Pet Segment, Vice President of Corporate Financial Planning & Analysis, and Director of Business Performance for the Garden segment, focusing on business unit profitability. Before joining Central, Mr. Lahanas worked in private equity and investment banking for over eight years.

Mr. Lahanas has strong financial expertise, having served as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, where he helped drive the Company’s strategy and financial performance. He also has extensive knowledge of the pet and garden industries, having worked in various other finance roles throughout the Company, including in its Pet and Garden segments. Mr. Lahanas has deep M&A experience, helping lead acquisitions at Central and from his time in investment banking and private equity before joining Central.

President and CEO, Solo Brands, Inc.
Director Since: 2019

Mr. Metz has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and a member of the Board of Directors of Solo Brands, Inc. since January 2024. Prior to joining Solo Brands, he served as a director and Chief Executive Officer of Vista Outdoor Inc. from October 2017 through January 2023. Prior to joining Vista Outdoor Inc., he served as President and Chief Executive Officer of Arctic Cat Inc., a manufacturer of all-terrain vehicles, recreational off-road vehicles, and snowmobiles, from December 2014 to March 2017. Mr. Metz served as a Managing Director of Sun Capital Partners Inc., a global private equity firm, from 2005 to July 2014. Prior to joining Sun Capital, he worked for Black & Decker, a manufacturer of power tools, accessories, hardware, home improvement products, and technology-based fastening systems for over 13 years, serving in a variety of capacities, including President of its Hardware and Home Improvement Group from 1999 to 2005. Mr. Metz also served as a director of Achushnet Holding Corp., a performance-driven golf company, from 2015 to 2017.

Mr. Metz has extensive experience leading global consumer products companies and proven leadership, strategic decision-making, and business performance skills, and a background in private equity.

Former President and CEO, Pennington Seed, Inc.
Director Since: 1998
Board Committee Membership: Executive Committee, Investment Committee

Mr. Pennington is co-owner of Pennington & Pennington, LLC, which provides management services for family entities involved in real estate development, student housing, timber production, farming, market investments and other businesses. He served as Central’s Chairman from February 2018 to September 2019 and was Director of Special Projects for Central from October 2006 through March 2023. From 1994 through September 2006, he was the President and Chief Executive Officer of Pennington Seed, Inc., a business which was acquired by Central in 1998. Mr. Pennington also serves on the boards of several private companies and was a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Georgia from July 2005 through June 2023.

Mr. Pennington has over 45 years of work experience in the lawn and garden industry, including 12 years as the former Chief Executive Officer of Pennington Seed, Inc.

Retired CEO, Central Garden & Pet 
Director Since: 2010
Board Committee Membership: Investment Committee; Talent, Capabilities & Succession Committee

Mr. Ranelli served as Central's Chief Executive Officer from February 2013 to May 2016 and as Acting Principal Financial Officer from February 2016 to September 2016. He served as Chairman of the Board of Woolrich, Inc., a global apparel and accessories company, from 2011 until November 2016, and also served as Chief Executive Officer from March 2012 until October 2012. From 2008 to 2012, Mr. Ranelli was engaged in pursuing corporate acquisition opportunities while advising companies and private equity firms. From 2007 to 2008, he was Chief Executive Officer and President of Mikasa, Inc., a global dinnerware, crystal, and home accessories company. From 1999 to 2006, Mr. Ranelli served as Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and President of FGX International, an optical and jewelry company. Previously, he served in senior executive capacities with Stride Rite Corporation, Deckers Outdoor Corporation, TLC Beatrice, and The Timberland Company. Mr. Ranelli serves on the Board of OrthoLite Holdings, LLC and is a member of the Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center Advisory Board. He was a member of the Trilantic Capital Partners Advisory Board from 2017 to 2020.

As a former Chief Executive Officer of Central and an experienced chief executive officer of consumer products companies and a chairman and director of public and private equity-owned companies, Mr. Ranelli has deep knowledge about Central and extensive experience leading and managing all aspects of mid-sized to large consumer products companies.

Former Interim CEO, Central Garden & Pet
Director Since: 2013
Board Committee Membership: Talent, Capabilities & Succession Committee

Ms. Springer served as Interim Chief Executive Officer of Central from October 2023 until September 2024. From October 2020 until her appointment as Interim CEO, she served as Central’s lead independent director. From 2009 to 2011, Ms. Springer was Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Clorox Company. She served as Clorox’s Group Vice President – Strategy and Growth from 2007 until 2009. Ms. Springer was Group Vice President and General Manager, Specialty Division from 2005 to 2007 and Vice President and General Manager, Glad Products Business Unit from 2002 through 2004. She joined Clorox in 1990 as associate marketing manager for household products and subsequently held marketing positions of increasing responsibility. Ms. Springer also serves as an independent director of Amy’s Kitchen, a privately held organic food company, and previously served as a director of Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc., a natural health and wellness company.

As a former senior executive of one of the country’s leading consumer products companies, Ms. Springer brings significant experience in general management, brand management, strategy, and many other aspects of the operations of a public consumer products company.