BRUSSELS — The European Pet Food Industry Federation (FEDIAF) announced the election of Greg Van Praagh — who represents UK Pet Food (formerly PFMA) and is co-founder of raw pet food brand Benyfit Natural — as its new president during the association’s General Assembly in Brussels this week. He succeeds Rosa Carbonell of Nestlé Purina Petcare Europe, who has served as president since 2022.
Van Praagh brings extensive experience at the intersection of pet food manufacturing, trade association leadership and regulatory engagement. After serving as co-founder and managing director of Benyfit Natural, he served as head of the United Kingdom and Europe at the Real Pet Food Company.
Van Praagh has been a prominent figure in UK and European pet food policy for nearly a decade. He served as chairman of UK Pet Food, during which he spearheaded the rebranding and modernization of the association. He has also been an active member of the FEDIAF board of directors since his election to the board in 2024.
“It is a profound honor to be elected president of FEDIAF at such a pivotal moment for our industry,” he said. “Europe’s pet food sector feeds hundreds of millions of beloved animals and supports tens of thousands of jobs across the continent. My focus will be on ensuring that our regulatory environment allows innovation to flourish, that we maintain the highest standards of safety and nutrition, and that we continue to make the compelling case for the important role pets play in people’s lives. I am grateful to the members for their trust, and I look forward to building on the exceptional work of my predecessor.”
Carbonell, who served as FEDIAF president from 2022 and was re-elected in 2024, is ending her tenure after leading the association through a period of significant regulatory and societal transformation. According to the association, she provided clear, steady leadership, dedicating substantial time, energy and personal commitment to ensuring that FEDIAF remained cohesive, relevant and forward-looking. During her tenure she championed a science-based approach to policy and deepened FEDIAF’s relationships with European regulators and civil society.
“It has been the greatest privilege to serve as president of FEDIAF and to represent an industry that I believe deeply in,” Carbonell said. “Working alongside such dedicated colleagues, member associations and the FEDIAF Secretariat has been genuinely inspiring. I am confident the association is in excellent hands with Greg. He brings passion, deep industry knowledge and a proven track record of effective advocacy. I know he will champion our members with energy and conviction, and I will continue to support him and the entire FEDIAF community in the years ahead.”
The board of directors added, “The FEDIAF Board of Directors expresses sincere gratitude to Rosa for her outstanding leadership, vision and dedication over the past years, that were instrumental in strengthening FEDIAF’s role and impact, leaving a lasting legacy for the Association. Rosa will continue to support FEDIAF’s work on the Board of Directors as vice president.”
In addition to Carbonell’s new role as vice president, Robin van den Bruinhorst, Managing Director of Q-Petfood (representing the Dutch association NVG) will also serve as vice president; Christophe Carlier of Royal Canin (representing the French association FACCO) was confirmed as a board member; and Katrin Langner, managing director of IVH (the German Industry Association for Pet Supplies) was also confirmed as a board member.
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