OAKLAND, CALIF. — Omnichannel pet retailer Pet Food Express (PFE) announced the appointment of Hayden Tollas to chief financial officer on Aug. 3. Tollas will collaborate with PFE’s leadership team to help the retailer with continued investments.

Tollas has 20 years of experience. He most recently served as chief financial officer and head of strategy for Gap Inc.’s subsidiary Old Navy, in which he was responsible for the brand’s financial performance, real estate portfolio and strategic global planning. Tollas also oversaw budgeting, enterprise capital planning, inventory management, e-commerce, supply chain management and IT at Gap.

“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,” said Denyelle Bruno, chief executive officer of PFE. “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.”

Founded in 1980, PFE operates more than 60 pet stores throughout California, offering high-quality pet food and supplies, as well as pet services. The retailer recently received an investment from private equity Rainier Partners, enabling it to expand its operations.

In his new role with PFE, Tollas will help the retailer’s leadership team make data-driven decisions and help it prepare for future expansions throughout California and additional markets.

“I firmly believe that a strong company mission contributes to an authentic corporate culture and allows the business to be a force for good,” Tollas shared. “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.”   

Read more about personnel changes throughout the industry.