Tonal, the manufacturer of strength training systems and personalized fitness technology, appointed Darren MacDonald as CEO and to the company’s Board of Directors, effective immediately.
Krystal Zell, who has served as CEO at Tonal since January 2023, is stepping down for personal reasons. During her tenure, Zell is reported to have been responsible for “raising $130 million in funding for the company, achieved key financial and operating milestones, maintained industry-leading retention rates, and developed new product roadmaps, including Tonal’s AI offerings driving personalization in strength training.
MacDonald, previously chief customer officer and chief marketing officer at Petco, brings over 20 years of global digital strategy and business development experience to his new role as CEO of Tonal. He has also “driven growth across the retail sector, including managing Walmart’s multi-billion dollar U.S. e-commerce entertainment business” and holding senior leadership positions at Jet.com, IAC and Avery Dennison.
“As a huge fan who uses Tonal myself, I know firsthand the unique value our product brings to people’s lives,” said MacDonald. “I’m excited to work with such a talented team at Tonal. We’ve set the bar high by being the first to offer truly personalized strength training technology, and I’m eager to push our offerings even further. Together, we’ll continue to empower people everywhere with the best strength training experience possible.”
“Krystal’s exceptional leadership has positioned Tonal for continued success and, on behalf of its employees and investors, we are thankful for her many contributions,” said Jack Lazar, chairman of the Tonal Board. “As we embark on this new chapter, we are excited to welcome Darren and his impressive background in retail strategy and consumer-driven growth, which we believe will propel Tonal to new heights in market share, member loyalty, and product development.”
“It has been a privilege to lead Tonal through such a pivotal period in its history,” said Zell. “I am incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together—from transforming our financial grounding while growing our membership with a focus on experience innovation. I extend my heartfelt thanks to our dedicated employees and supportive investors. I am confident that Darren’s passion for innovation and commitment to our members will continue to propel Tonal forward.”
Images courtesy Tonal
