Major online game retailer Troll and Toad has announced that long-time brick and mortar retailer David Wallace has been hired as the company’s new Chief Executive Officer.  Jon Huston will be the company’s President.  In addition to his role as owner of a successful five-store chain in the St. Louis area, Wallace is also well-known as a speaker (especially at GAMA events) and author on retail management topics. 

We spoke briefly to Troll and Toad’s Huston about the move. 

Why did you hire Wallace?

We wanted to get a very high quality person in the industry, not just pick from random people who we didn’t know. When I thought of all the people in the industry who would be most qualified for the job, Dave Wallace, who I’ve known since 2002, was my obvious first choice as the very best person I could choose. I interviewed him and ended up agreeing on an offer where he could come work for us permanently.  He’s actually already bought a home in Barbourville (Kentucky, where the company is headquartered).

What was the biggest need that caused you to go outside for a CEO?

We got to the point where the managers of the managers of our employees didn’t have sufficient training to be able to really maximize not only their own management abilities, and be able to manage their employees as well as Dave could teach them to do.