Ooni, the creator and leader of the home pizza oven market, has appointed Amanda Tolhurst as its new Chief Operating Officer.
Ooni’s announcement of this appointment to its executive leadership team follows a comprehensive global search that spanned more than a year; Tolhurst brings over two decades of deep, cross-functional leadership experience across iconic global brands and complex supply chains.
Tolhurst joins Ooni from Specialized Bicycle Components, where she served as Chief Operating Officer, leading end-to-end operations. The appointment will see her relocate to Edinburgh, where she will be based at Ooni’s global headquarters.
Prior to her role at Specialized, Tolhurst held several senior leadership positions at Nike Inc., most notably as Vice President of Global Footwear Manufacturing. She also served as Chief Operating Officer at Converse, where she played a key role in operational strategy and international growth.
Tolhurst began her career at Whirlpool Corporation, where she spent 13 years in various leadership roles. Her dedication to operational excellence and team development was recognised with industry accolades including the Emerging Leader Award from the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals (2013) and the STEP Ahead Award from the National Association of Manufacturers (2017).
With a track record of scaling operations, driving innovation, and building strong global teams, Tolhurst makes a powerful addition to Ooni.
In her new role at Ooni, Tolhurst will work closely with Ooni founders Kristian Tapaninaho and Darina Garland to help define and deliver the brand’s long-term product vision and business direction. She will report directly to Ooni’s Co-Founder and Co-CEO, Darina Garland.
“Amanda stood out not only for her global operations experience but also for her alignment with our values and vision,” said Tapaninaho. “We’re excited to welcome her to Ooni as we continue to evolve our brand and product offerings.”
Originally from Canada, Tolhurst holds a Bachelor of Science in Logistics & Transportation from the University of Tennessee and an MBA from York University’s Schulich School of Business.
“As I have learned more about the people, the culture and the overall mission at Ooni, my excitement to join the team has only continued to grow,” said Amanda Tolhurst.
“When you bring passion together with a clear direction and solid guiding values, the sky’s the limit and I can’t wait to be a part of creating trailblazing products and experiences with the team.”
