Purina Institute Appoints Dr. Marianne Lomberg as New Head
Veterinarian and global pet nutrition leader to guide science-based education and resources for veterinary teams worldwide.
ST. LOUIS — April 6, 2026 — The Purina Institute today announced the appointment of Dr. Marianne Lomberg, BVSc (Hons), as its new Head. From April 2026, Dr. Lomberg is joining Nestlé Purina PetCare’s global strategic business team to lead the Purina Institute, with a focus on delivering timely, clinically relevant, science-based education that helps veterinary teams put nutrition into practice every day.
“We are pleased to welcome Dr. Lomberg to the Purina Institute. Her experience and leadership will further strengthen our ongoing commitment to providing veterinarians and veterinary teams with practical, evidence-based nutrition information they can trust,” said Dan Smith, Head of PetCare Global Strategic Business Unit
Dr. Lomberg qualified as a veterinarian in South Africa and began her career in an urban small animal veterinary clinic. She later returned to the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Pretoria—her alma mater—where she lectured in veterinary nutrition and behavior.
After four years in academia, Dr. Lomberg began an 18-year career in the veterinary industry. Her roles spanned regulatory affairs and compliance, technical training, marketing, sales, and business management across the pet food, veterinary equipment, pharmaceutical, and distribution sectors. She has worked with veterinary teams across Africa, Europe and Asia.
In 2021, Dr. Lomberg joined Nestlé Purina PetCare as Head of the PetCare business for Eastern and Southern Africa, leading the launch of Purina diets in sub-Saharan Africa.
About her new role, Dr. Lomberg said, “I’m thrilled to join the Purina Institute at such an exciting time. As AI makes information more accessible, veterinary professionals need a trusted, easy-to-use source of accurate, verified nutrition science to help answer client questions. By being that resource, we can support veterinary teams to care with confidence—so more dogs and cats can live healthier, happier lives.”
Dr. Lomberg succeeds Dr. Natalia Wagemans, who led the Institute for the past five years and has moved into a new role as Scientific Communication Strategy Lead. A medical doctor by background with a deep expertise in nutrition, Dr. Wagemans helped broaden the Purina Institute’s science-based offerings and global reach for veterinary professionals including now having content in 8 languages and driving membership up to more than 200,000 professionals.
About Purina Institute
The Purina Institute is dedicated to transforming nutrition science into actionable information that veterinary professionals can put into practice to benefit their patients. Through the Institute’s extensive online resources, publications and scientific programs, veterinarians and team members can arm themselves with the unbiased, science-based information they need to help pets live longer, better lives.