Golden Child, the next-gen wellness brand for pets, today announced the appointment of Grüns alum Connor Stastny as Chief Executive Officer. Stastny brings operational experience scaling high-trust consumer businesses from early stage to exit and joins Golden Child to lead the company’s next phase of growth.

Stastny most recently served as President & CFO of Grüns, a direct-to-consumer nutrition and supplement brand acquired by Unilever in a deal valued at $1.2 billion. He joined the company as CFO and was promoted to President in early 2026 to oversee Gruns’ organizational execution while continuing to lead the build-out of its data and finance organization, culminating in them executing the Unilever transaction without an investment bank, an achievement made possible by the infrastructure and team he built. Prior to Grüns, Stastny held C-suite roles at Byte, a direct-to-consumer orthodontics company that was acquired for just over $1 billion within 24 months of market launch.

“When we set out to find the right person to lead Golden Child, we knew they had to both genuinely believe in our mission to make pet parenthood easier, happier, and healthier, and bring the right operational skillset to scale the business into a household brand,” said Quentin Lacornerie, Co-Founder and Chief Product Officer of Golden Child. “Connor understood our values immediately – his track record growing exceptional subscription businesses that require earning consumer trust and his vision for Golden Child made this an easy decision. We’re thrilled to have him helm the team for our next chapter. ”

At Golden Child, Stastny will focus on scaling the company’s core product offering, attracting top talent, and building the foundation to support long-term growth. He has been a consistent advocate for building clear operational systems that empower teams to do their best work in pursuit of excellence.

“What excites me about Golden Child is the chance to build something that improves lives for dogs and the people who love them,” said Stastny. “I’m a believer in businesses that support universal flourishing, and research shows dog ownership is associated with a 24% reduction in all-cause mortality in humans. If we can make dog ownership effortless with a solution like Golden Child, that impact compounds. The science and the mission here are exceptional, and I’m proud to join a team that takes both seriously.”

Stastny joins Golden Child’s expert founding team, which includes a board-certified veterinary nutritionist – one of 80 in the country – as well as a nutrition scientist, a classically trained chef, and a fresh food supply chain expert. Together, they have years of experience from companies such as The Farmer’s Dog, HelloFresh, Royal Canin, Nestlé Purina and Pepperidge Farm, and they focused on elevating pet nutrition by integrating rigorous formulation standards, culinary creativity, and operational excellence.

Golden Child is committed to making every bowl with care and nutrition to support lifelong health with its chef-crafted and vet nutritionist-developed recipes that feature “Mains” and “Drizzles,” which enhance palatability and support a healthy gut, joint health, cellular vitality, and a shiny coat.

The appointment reflects Golden Child’s commitment to build with intention and world-class leadership. The premium pet food category is overdue for transformation, and Golden Child has built the team to lead it. To learn more about Golden Child, visit mygoldenchild.com.

About Golden Child

Golden Child, the next-gen wellness brand for pets, is redefining fresh pet food through an uncompromising focus on health, quality, and culinary craftsmanship. Created for devoted dog parents who see their pets as family, Golden Child combines trusted nutritional standards with chef-driven craftsmanship, and fine dining–inspired design. Featuring five-star “mains” with taste-driven “drizzles,” each recipe is thoughtfully developed with premium ingredients and exceptional palatability, delivering meals worthy of your favorite child. Founded by Quentin Lacornerie and Jack Abraham in 2025, Golden Child is about feeding your pet as an expression of love, devotion, and taste. By pairing nutritional science with elevated lifestyle aesthetics, the brand transforms everyday care into moments of connection. For more information, visit https://mygoldenchild.com.

Media gallery

About The Author
Business Wire