Pathway Vet Alliance has hired the CEO of Thrive Affordable Vet Care to serve as chief operating officer.
Odis Pirtle will keep his title at Thrive while leading practice support and business operations at Pathway. Thrive’s chief operating officer, Kirk Pozadzides, will look after day-to-day operations.
Pathway Vet Alliance is a primary shareholder in Thrive Affordable Vet Care. Both companies are headquartered in Austin, Texas.
Pathway partners with more than 200 hospitals in 33 states, managing back-office duties and leaving clinical responsibilities to the on-site veterinary teams. Thrive owns several dozen preventive care clinics from California to Georgia.
Pirtle, Thrive’s CEO since August 2016, is a former group director at Zoetis Inc. and former regional sales director at Pfizer Animal Health.
“I … look forward to partnering with Pathway’s talented senior leadership team to accelerate organizational structure changes that put our hospital teams at the center of all that we do and deliver on our vision for the veterinary industry,” Pirtle said. “A key focus of this position will be further streamlining and supporting Pathway’s operational infrastructure to ensure sustainable future growth.”
Pathway also announced the appointment of human relations director Andrea Clayton, who was given the title “chief people officer.” She most recently served in human health care as chief human resources officer at Austin Regional Clinic.
Pathway started as a single veterinary clinic in 2003.
“Reaching our 200th location is a major step forward for Pathway, however we are continuing to keep our sights set on the future,” said CEO Stephen Hadley, DVM, MS. “We remain focused on expanding into new markets and with the addition of new leadership only expect to be able to hasten our pace, while also refocusing on investing in our existing ecosystem.”