Board of Directors

John B. Payne

President / Chief Executive Officer / Chairman of the Board

Mr. Payne was the founder of Compassion-First Pet Hospitals, and served as President and CEO from 2014 until 2020. Compassion-First Pet Hospitals, now NVA Compassion-First, is a family of specialty and emergency veterinary hospitals located throughout the United States that is dedicated to changing the veterinary landscape and elevating patient outcomes. Mr. Payne currently serves as Vice Chairman of National Veterinary Associates, with which Compassion-First Pet Hospitals combined. Prior to founding Compassion-First, Mr. Payne served as a member of the Global Leadership Team for Mars Pet Care. He also served as President and CEO of Banfield Pet Hospitals and as President and General Manager of Bayer Healthcare’s North American Animal Health Division.

Mr. Payne currently serves as Chairman of the Board for American Humane and as Vice Chairman of the Board of Regents at Ross University School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine. He served on the Board of Directors of Nexvet, a bioscience company located in Dublin, Ireland, through the company’s acquisition by Zoetis in 2018.

Alison A. Cornell

Director since 2021

Ms. Cornell currently serves as the Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of Compassion-First Pet Hospitals, and has held such office since July 2017. Previously, she served as Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer of International Flavors & Fragrances Inc. (NYSE: IFF, Euronext Paris: IFF) from July 2015 through October 2016, and before that, she served multiple roles at Covance, Inc. (NYSE: CVD) from 2004 through July 2015, including Corporate Senior Vice President & Chief Financial Officer.

Christopher Maggiore

Director since 2013

Mr. Maggiore was appointed to the Board of Directors on August 28, 2013. He has a successful track record in entrepreneurship, with over 25 years of experience in the areas of real estate development and building and management of businesses. Mr. Maggiore currently owns and manages a portfolio of diverse businesses and investments.

Nola E. Masterson

Director since 2014

Ms. Masterson has an extensive and well-regarded track record in the biotech industry and has 33 years of experience in the life science industry. Ms. Masterson is the Chair Emeritus of the Bay Bio Institute, a 501(c)3 affiliate of BayBio. Since 1982, she has been the Chief Executive Officer of Science Futures Inc., an investment and advisory firm, and is currently Managing Member and General Partner of Science Futures LLC, I and II, which are venture capital funds invested in life science funds and companies. She received her Masters’ degree in Biological Sciences from George Washington University and continued Ph.D. coursework at the University of Florida.