The J.M Smucker Co. has named to head its pet food business the executive who has been leading it on an interim basis since last year.

Rob Ferguson was promoted to senior vice president and general manager of Smucker’s pet food and pet snacks business. Ferguson had been heading that business as interim manager.

Ferguson had been an executive at Big Heart Pet Brands, which Smucker acquired in 2015. After leading key elements of the Big Heart Pet Brands integration, he was appointed a Smucker Co. officer with enterprise supply chain oversight.

“Rob has a thorough understanding of the pet food and pet snacks industry and has articulated a compelling vision to grow our brands," Mark Smucker, president and CEO, said in a statement. “His experience and passion for the category, paired with his track record of consistently delivering results on key initiatives, made him the clear choice to lead the business.”