Oakland, CA (Aug 3, 2023) - Pet Food Express (“PFE”), an omnichannel pet retailer that sells healthy pet foods, goods, and services, is pleased to announce the hiring of Hayden Tollas as Chief Financial Officer.
Tollas brings two decades of experience leading high-performance teams with a passion for serving mission-driven companies. He previously served as Chief Financial Officer and Head of Strategy for Old Navy (a subsidiary company of Gap Inc.), with responsibility for the brand’s financial performance, real estate portfolio, and strategic planning on a global scale. In his 18 years with the company, Tollas also focused on financial budgeting and forecasting for Gap Inc.’s portfolio of brands, as well as enterprise capital planning, inventory management, eCommerce, supply chain management, and IT.
Commenting on the appointment, Tollas said, “I firmly believe that a strong company mission contributes to an authentic corporate culture and allows the business to be a force for good. PFE’s mission-driven approach and my experience in multi-site retail and e-commerce align perfectly with this opportunity, and I am excited to work with the team to continue to scale and further enhance the business to better serve our customers.”
PFE was founded in 1980 by Michael Levy and has helped lead the recent evolution of the pet industry with over 60 retail locations throughout California. PFE focuses on delivering the highest quality pet products and services and has built a strong foundation of success through knowledgeable store team members, relationships with local rescues and shelters, and organic customer loyalty. The company partnered with Seattle-based private equity firm Rainier Partners in June of 2022.
Tollas will work with the leadership team to make data-driven decisions to inform continued investments in the core tenets of the company’s successful business model while also making optimizations in preparation for expanding to new markets across California and beyond.
“Hayden is well equipped for this position, and we are absolutely thrilled to bring him aboard as CFO as we continue to invest in the growth of the leadership team,” commented PFE CEO Denyelle Bruno. “His career trajectory speaks for itself — as CFO of the largest business within the Gap Inc. portfolio, he navigated complex supply chain issues and changing customer shopping trends while helping boost sales to an all-time high in 2021. I am confident that our team and customers will greatly benefit from the depth and breadth of knowledge and experience he brings.”
ABOUT PET FOOD EXPRESS
California’s trusted independent pet retailer, dedicated to helping pets live longer, healthier lives. Founded by Michael Levy, Pet Food Express has reimagined pet care by focusing on the very best brands and products. PFE team members are extensively trained in all aspects of animal health and sell only those products they trust to use with their own pets, from nutrient-rich foods to high-quality supplements to convenient services like their signature in-store pet washes. The company is a committed partner to more than 300 non-profit animal rescue and shelter organizations, providing them every year with much-needed aid through fundraising, product donations, help recruiting and retaining volunteers, and adoption support. Visit the PFE website here: www.petfood.express.