PetExpert founders step back after eight years as Trupanion takes over leadership

PetExpert by Trupanion is entering a new phase as cofounders Derek Cummins and Jan Moravec prepare to leave day-to-day executive roles at the end of 2026. Trupanion’s international team will take over leadership, aiming to preserve continuity for veterinarians and customers in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Why it matters: - PetExpert’s leadership transition affects a pet insurance platform that has helped shape digital veterinary payments in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. - The handoff is meant to protect continuity for veterinary partners and policyholders while PetExpert moves deeper into Trupanion’s global structure. - Direct payment to veterinary clinics remains central to the service model, reducing upfront costs for pet owners and administrative work for clinics.

What happened: - PetExpert by Trupanion said cofounders Derek Cummins and Jan Moravec are preparing to step away from daily executive roles at the end of 2026. - Trupanion’s international leadership team will assume responsibility for the business. - The transition follows eight years of building pet insurance operations in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. - PetExpert was founded in 2018. - The company became part of Trupanion in 2022.

The details: - PetExpert’s model uses digital direct billing for veterinary care, so covered costs are paid directly to veterinary clinics. - The company says the approach lowers paperwork and makes access to veterinary care simpler. - PetExpert now works with roughly 85% of veterinary practices in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. - Trupanion and PetExpert share a focus on veterinary partnerships, direct payment and easier access to care. - Derek Cummins said the founders wanted to change traditional pet insurance and build something better for veterinarians and pet owners. - Jan Moravec said the goal from the start was to use technology to make pet insurance simpler and to avoid forcing owners to pay the full bill upfront. - Margi Tooth, Trupanion’s CEO, said the founders built strong relationships with veterinary teams and made direct payment a core part of PetExpert’s service.

Between the lines: - The transition suggests Trupanion wants to keep PetExpert’s local operating model intact rather than absorb it into a fully centralized system. - Maintaining the same payment workflow is likely key to preserving trust with clinics that already use the service. - The founders’ continued involvement in community and charity work signals a softer exit rather than a complete break.

What's next: - Trupanion’s international team will work with local PetExpert colleagues to manage the handover. - The company says the goal is a smooth transition for clients and veterinary partners. - Cummins and Moravec will remain connected to PetExpert through selected community and charitable activities. - PetExpert is expected to continue operating under the Trupanion umbrella with the same core direct-payment model.