The award-winning lifestyle brand is having an executive shake-up.
Dogtopia, a U.S. dog daycare and boarding franchise, has announced that Peter Thomas, chairman of Thomas Franchise Solutions USA, LLC., has named one of Dogtopia’s multi-unit franchisees as the brand’s new chairman and general partner.
Chris Kempner will fill the role, and has been involved with Dogtopia for the past three years. As part of his new position as general partner, Kempner’s New York-based company Red Barn Franchise Holdings LLC has purchased Peter Thomas’ interest in Thomas Franchise Solutions USA, meaning Kempner now manages the funds that support Dogtopia.
Red Barn Dog Holdings LLC acquired the largest Dogtopia franchise territory, with plans to open more than 30 centers across the East Coast. Prior to founding Red Barn Equity Partners, Kempner was vice president at Metalmark Capital, and has experience in both investing and private equity.
“Between Chris’s experience as a Dogtopia multi-unit operator combined with Neil Gill and the leadership team, I cannot think of a better-suited individual to invest in and take from me the chairmanship of Dogtopia into the future,” said Peter Thomas. “I believe Dogtopia will have its best shot at greatness with this team moving forward.”
When Thomas first became the general partner and chairman of Dogtopia in 2012, there were fewer than 30 locations across the U.S. Today, there are nearly 150 centers, with 38 new franchise licenses awarded just this year.
“I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to become Dogtopia’s new chairman and help ensure that as we continue to recover from the ongoing impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the company is focused and poised to resume its ascent toward daycare category leadership,” Kempner said. “With our industry-leading approach to providing the safest daycare services available for our pups and a tangible emotional connection with our pet parents, our CEO Neil Gill, the existing management team and the support office employees will remain the champions and leaders of that ascent.”
As well as a year of franchise development, Dogtopia also celebrated back in February after winning the Best Lifestyle Franchise at the Global Franchise Awards 2020. Find out more information about that here, and to be in with the chance of winning an award in this year’s installment, enter now.
