Denny Bruce announced on LinkedIn today that he decided to step down as the CEO of the pizza oven brand Gozney for personal reason. While he’ll no longer be CEO, he will remain on as an advisor to the Board.
Tom Gozney, the founder of Gozney, has moved back into the role he vacated when Denny Bruce came on. This should ensure a smooth transition for the brand as it continues on its growth journey.
Below is the full text of Denny Bruce’s announcement.
Just over a month ago, I made the decision to step down from my role as CEO of Gozney for personal reasons. While I am no longer serving as CEO, I am honored to continue supporting the company as an advisor to the Board of Directors. As founder, Tom Gozney has stepped back in as CEO, and I am confident in the leadership and vision guiding the company forward.
Denny Bruce via LinkedIn
It has been an incredible journey. Together, we built a remarkable brand, fueled by a passionate community of pizza enthusiasts, and achieved a 41% CAGR over the past three years. The foundation is strong, and Gozney is positioned to become the most aspirational brand in the industry.
I remain personally, emotionally, and financially invested in the ongoing success of Gozney, Tom, and the entire team. I am deeply grateful for the support of the team, our partners, and our amazing pizza community.
In the meantime, I am enjoying more time with my family—fishing with my sons, surfing, and traveling—experiences I have cherished more than I have in decades.
Thank you all for your support. Happy Holidays! Cheers!
Denny Bruce took over as CEO about three years ago to help grow the business. Given what the outdoor cooking market looked like at the beginning of 2023 when he took over, it’s incredible that they’ve achieved 41% CAGR. We got a peek at their financials not long ago and they revealed a company that’s run-rating at about $100 million in revenue.
The growth under Denny’s tenure has been driven by Gozney’s strategic shift from DTC to wholesale channels. Their products are now floored at a number of stores, including Home Depot.
Beyond growth, Denny has also led the company through a strategic investment and another crowd sourced round. Those investments were used to fuel the aforementioned growth.
On the product side, Gozney has a number of new innovations to stay ahead of competition and drive sales. They rounded out their line-up with the go-anywhere Tread, and added a medium-sized oven in the Arc. Most recently, they released a redesign of the Dome, which is the oven that started it all for the brand.