A Farmer School graduate will soon take the top leadership position at Nestlé Purina PetCare. Nina Leigh Krueger, president of Nestlé Purina PetCare U.S., will become the CEO and President of Nestlé Purina PetCare for the Americas on Jan. 1, 2021.

Krueger, a 1983 marketing graduate, has been with the company for 27 years. She will become the eighth CEO in company history, and Purina's first female CEO.  "Nina Leigh's business acumen, exceptional leadership and communication skills, and ability to bring out the best in people make her the ideal successor to guide Purina for years to come," Nestlé Zone Americas CEO Laurent Freixe said.

Krueger started her career at Ralston Purina in 1993 as a Brand Management intern before moving to the cat food marketing team the following year. After Nestlé purchased the company in 2001, she led the marketing integration for the Nestlé Purina team. After several more successful years in pet food marketing, she moved to the Cat Litter division and was promoted to Vice President of Marketing in 2010. There she led several noteworthy innovations that drove growth in the business, particularly Tidy Cats LightWeight Litter. The Litter division is now a growth driver for Nestlé Purina.

In 2015, Krueger was named Chief Marketing Officer, Nestlé Purina U.S., and became President, Nestlé Purina U.S., in 2016.

“Nina Leigh is the perfect choice to lead this company into a winning future,” outgoing CEO Joseph R. Sivewrightsaid. “Throughout her 27-year Purina career, she has played a vital role in our many successes during a time of great complexity in the pet care business. She has a proven track record of bringing innovation to market and leading key global brands and initiatives.

“In addition, Nina Leigh has an established history of leadership, getting the very best from our associates while keeping our Purina culture top of mind,” he said.

Krueger was the subject of a story in the Farmer School's Journey magazine soon after being named president. She was an Executive Series Speaker guest in 2018.