William E. Brown founded Central Garden & Pet Company and has served as Chairman of the Board since September 2019, having previously held that role from 1980 until February 2018. He served as the Company's Chief Executive Officer from 1980 to 2003 and again from 2007 until 2013, and has been a director continuously since 1980.
Before founding Central, Mr. Brown was Senior Vice President of Vivitar Corporation from 1977 to 1980, where he was responsible for Finance, Operations and Research & Development. From 1972 to 1977 he worked at McKesson Corporation, overseeing its 200-site data processing organization, and he spent the first 10 years of his career at McCormick, Inc. in manufacturing, engineering and data processing.
As the Company's founder, Mr. Brown brings extensive management and leadership experience along with deep knowledge of the lawn & garden and pet supplies industries and the financial and operational issues the Company faces.