Central Garden & Pet Names Apur Patel Chief Legal Officer

Seasoned global legal executive with more than 30 years of experience across consumer packaged goods, technology, and healthcare to succeed retiring General Counsel & Secretary George Yuhas

WALNUT CREEK, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) (“Central”), a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries, today announced the appointment of Apur Patel as Chief Legal Officer, effective January 26, 2026. Mr. Patel succeeds George Yuhas, who will retire from the company.

In this role, Mr. Patel will oversee all legal matters for Central, including corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, securities and compliance, litigation, intellectual property, and enterprise risk management. He will report directly to Niko Lahanas, Chief Executive Officer of Central Garden & Pet.

“We’re grateful to George for stepping back into the role on an interim basis and helping ensure a smooth transition,” said Niko Lahanas. “As George returns to retirement, we’re excited to welcome Apur to Central. Apur brings deep experience and a strong track record of aligning legal strategy with business priorities while effectively managing risk in complex, global organizations.”

Mr. Patel is a senior in-house legal executive with more than 30 years of global experience across consumer packaged goods, technology, and healthcare. He joins Central from The Clorox Company, where he most recently served as Vice President & Deputy General Counsel, leading a team of more than 20 attorneys and paralegals and overseeing Intellectual Property, Commercial and Technology Transactions, Licensing, and Marketing Communications and Advertising.

Earlier in his career, Mr. Patel held senior legal roles at Cisco, Cargill, and UnitedHealth Group, supporting complex global businesses and leading cross-functional initiatives. He is widely respected for his executive presence, strong business acumen, and ability to build and lead high-performing legal teams.

“I am excited to join Central Garden & Pet,” said Mr. Patel. “Central’s entrepreneurial culture, strong portfolio of leading brands, and commitment to long-term value creation are compelling. I look forward to building on the strong legal foundation established by George and partnering with Niko and the leadership team to support Central’s continued success.”

Mr. Patel holds a Juris Doctor degree from Washington and Lee University School of Law and a bachelor’s degree from Colgate University.

About Central Garden & Pet

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) is a leading consumer goods company in the pet and garden industries. Guided by the belief that home is central to life, the Company's purpose is to proudly nurture happy and healthy homes. For over 45 years, its innovative and trusted solutions have helped lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier, and communities grow stronger.

Central is home to a diversified portfolio of market-leading brands including Amdro^®, Aqueon^®, Best Bully Sticks^®, Cadet^®, C&S^®, Farnam^®, Ferry-Morse^®, Kaytee^®, Nylabone^®, Pennington^®, Sevin^® and Zoёcon^®. With fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.1 billion, Central has strong manufacturing and logistics capabilities supported by a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. The Company is headquartered in Walnut Creek, California, and employs over 6,000 people, primarily across North America. Visit www.central.com to learn more.