Zoom Room taps Ron Coughlin as chairman, names Soumik Chatterjee CFO

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Zoom Room has named former Petco chairman and CEO Ron Coughlin as chairman of its board and appointed former Petco Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer Soumik Chatterjee as CFO, in a leadership move the dog training franchise says is tied to its next phase of national expansion. The company announced the hires on March 31, 2026, saying it’s targeting 550 locations by 2030 after being ranked No. 1 in the dog training category on Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500 list. Coughlin is expected to advise on strategy, talent, and industry relationships, while Chatterjee is being brought in to add financial discipline as the company scales. (prnewswire.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary professionals, the appointments are another sign that training, behavior, and other pet services continue to attract experienced retail and consumer executives, not just operators from within the training field. Zoom Room’s pitch centers on repeat visits, socialization, and community-based engagement, which can make training businesses more durable referral partners for clinics, especially as more practices look for trusted outlets for puppy socialization, basic obedience, and behavior support outside the exam room. At the same time, the company’s aggressive unit-growth goals suggest more competition for pet parent attention, spending, and loyalty across the broader pet services ecosystem. (prnewswire.com)

What to watch: Watch whether Zoom Room’s new leadership translates into faster franchise growth, deeper local partnerships, and a bigger role for training services alongside veterinary care in pet parent spending. (prnewswire.com)