David McLain to Retire as CEO and Remain on Board of Directors
Alphia Board Member Miguel Nistal Appointed as Interim CEO
DENVER (July 30, 2025) Alphia, one of the largest pet food manufacturers in North America, today announced that David McLain has retired from his role as CEO and President of the company. McLain will continue to serve on Alphia’s Board of Directors, where he will serve as an advisor and support the company’s M&A strategy.
Miguel Nistal, a seasoned consumer and industrial executive, and member of Alphia’s Board of Directors, has been appointed Interim CEO. Nistal will work closely with McLain, the Board, and Alphia’s executive leadership team to execute the company’s strategic priorities and ensure a smooth transition. These changes are effective immediately.
David McLain said: “Founding and leading Alphia has been the highlight of my career. Together, the Alphia team has built a resilient and innovative company that helps our partners deliver safe, delicious options to pet families across the country. I look forward to working with Miguel and the rest of the Board to support Alphia’s continued expansion during this exciting next phase of growth.”
Enderson Guimaraes, Chairman of the Board, said: “Dave created the Alphia we know today through the successful merger of C.J. Foods and American Nutrition, PAI Partners’ investment in Alphia, and the recent acquisition of our Pittsburg, TX manufacturing facility. On behalf of the entire Alphia Board, we are thankful for his leadership and grateful that he will continue to support Alphia’s strategic growth through his continued role on our Board.”
Miguel Nistal brings more than 25 years of experience leading companies in the consumer and industrial industries. He is currently a Senior Advisor at PAI Partners, where he advises the firm’s consumer portfolio companies on operational excellence initiatives. Earlier in his career, he served as CEO of Woodstream Corporation, Swan Products, and Keys Fitness and spent almost 11 years at Stanley, Black & Decker, including most recently as President of the Hardware division.
Winston Song, Partner at PAI Partners, said: “We would like to thank Dave for his leadership and service in building the Alphia platform. We’re excited to welcome Miguel to Alphia. He brings extensive experience driving commercial and operational excellence initiatives and growing successful partnerships with customers. We are confident that his experience, coupled with his keen understanding of Alphia’s strategy and culture from his time on the Board, makes him the right choice to guide us through this interim period.”
Miguel Nistal said: “I have long admired Alphia’s deep commitment to customer service, innovative solutions, and its people-focused culture. Alphia has a solid foundation, and I look forward to working with our talented team to continue delivering exceptional value to our customers and partners.”
About Alphia
Alphia™ is a leading manufacturer of pet food in the U.S., driven by its mission to feed more pets.
Customers choose Alphia as their trusted partner for offering unparalleled marketplace intelligence,
providing research and development expertise, and delivering premium manufacturing capabilities
across all value tiers to create the safest, highest quality products on shelf. Alphia’s decades of
leadership remain focused on safety, quality and consistently delivering growth for its customers, its
employees, and their communities. For more information, visit www.alphia.com.
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