Pizzaiolo names Pat Finelli first chief operating and marketing officer

Toronto – Pizzaiolo has officially brought on Pat Finelli to assume the dual role of chief operating and marketing officer. Finelli first joined the artisan pizza maker in mid 2020.

“It’s a great honour to welcome Pat to the team,” said Luigi Petrella, a third-generation pizza maker who founded the company in 2000 and is now its chief executive officer. “Pat’s passion for pizza comes out each time I see him in our restaurants, when we’re sampling menu items or even just talking food strategies.”

Finelli started in the pizza industry upon graduating university, accepting an accounting role at Pizza Pizza Ltd. During his 35-year career in the industry, he helped the chain grow across the country and became the company’s first chief marketing officer.

“Luigi and his family, both those who are active as well as those who have paved the way before him, are extremely well respected and admired in the industry,” Finelli said. “I’ve enjoyed seeing them grow over the years and especially the way they’ve remained committed to homemade tomato sauce and hand-crafted pizzas that are made fresh in each location. I’m delighted to join Luigi’s team and help Pizzaiolo, ‘the pizza maker’s pizza’, grow and reach new customers.”

Founded in 2000, the chain has more than 40 locations. In the past eight months during the pandemic, Pizzaiolo has opened three new locations in Toronto and expects to open another 10 sites in 2021.