Draft:Tom Cortese
American entrepreneur and Peloton co-founder
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Tom Cortese (also known as Thomas Cortese) is an American entrepreneur and technology executive best known as a co-founder of Peloton Interactive, the connected fitness company. He served in senior leadership at Peloton from its founding in 2012 until his departure in 2023, holding the roles of Chief Operating Officer and, later, Chief Product Officer.[1]
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|  |
Tom Cortese | |
|---|---|
| Education | The George Washington University (B.A. Philosophy, 2002) |
| Occupations | Entrepreneur, technology executive |
| Known for | Co-founding Peloton Interactive; CEO of Counter Service |
At Peloton, Cortese was one of five original co-founders alongside John Foley, Hisao Kushi, Yony Feng, and Graham Stanton. He was the last of the original co-founders to remain with the company at the time of his departure.[1] During his tenure, Peloton grew from a startup into a publicly traded company following its 2019 initial public offering on the Nasdaq, which raised approximately $1.16 billion.[2]
Following his departure from Peloton, Cortese became chief executive officer of Counter Service, a technology-enabled fast-casual sandwich concept co-founded with Steve Ells, the founder of Chipotle Mexican Grill.[3]
Early life and education
Cortese earned a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy from The George Washington University in 2002.[2] He was an avid competitive athlete, including as a triathlete, runner, and cyclist.[2][4]
Early career
Prior to founding Peloton, Cortese held product management and executive roles at IAC/InterActiveCorp, the internet conglomerate founded by Barry Diller, as well as at Revolution Health Group.[2] It was at IAC that Cortese first met John Foley, who would later recruit him as a Peloton co-founder.[5]
Peloton Interactive
Founding and early years
In 2012, Cortese was recruited by John Foley to co-found Peloton Interactive, a company that sought to bring the energy of boutique fitness studios into consumers' homes through internet-connected exercise equipment paired with live and on-demand streaming fitness classes.[5][6] The other co-founders were Hisao Kushi, Yony Feng, and Graham Stanton.[5]
Cortese played a central role in shaping Peloton's early product experience, including instructor recruiting, hardware development, and consumer product design.[5][4] A pivotal early milestone occurred on Black Friday 2013, when Cortese and other co-founders operated a pop-up shop at the Short Hills Mall in New Jersey and sold the first Peloton bikes ever manufactured.[5]
Role as Chief Operating Officer
As Chief Operating Officer, Cortese was responsible for operational cohesion across the company, product development, the global consumer product roadmap, and hardware and software innovation teams.[2][4]
In September 2019, Peloton completed its initial public offering on the Nasdaq, raising approximately $1.16 billion.[2] That same year, Cortese was named to Fortune magazine's 40 Under 40 list, ranking eighth.[4]
Role as Chief Product Officer
In August 2021, Cortese transitioned from COO to Chief Product Officer, focusing on Peloton's hardware and software product development, including the company's app and connected device roadmap.[1]
During this period, Peloton faced significant operational challenges, including product recalls and declining demand following peak pandemic-era growth. The company's Tread+ treadmill was recalled following a safety incident, and subsequent recalls contributed to subscriber churn and legal scrutiny.[1]
Departure
On September 26, 2023, Peloton announced that Cortese would be leaving the company, transitioning to an advisory role effective November 1, 2023.[1][7] He was the last of Peloton's original co-founders still with the company at the time of his departure.[7] He was succeeded as Chief Product Officer by Nick Caldwell.[1]
Counter Service
Following his departure from Peloton, Cortese became involved with Kernel Foods Inc., a New York City–based restaurant startup founded by Steve Ells, the founder of Chipotle Mexican Grill. Kernel had initially launched as an automation-forward, plant-based concept but pivoted in early 2025 under Cortese to a new brand called Counter Service — a chef-driven, fast-casual sandwich restaurant.[3][8]
Cortese became CEO of Counter Service. The concept was developed in collaboration with former Eleven Madison Park chef Andrew Black and is centered on scratch-cooked proteins and a central kitchen model.[3][9] By late 2025, Counter Service had grown to four New York City locations.[9]
Recognition
- Ranked eighth on Fortune magazine's 40 Under 40 list (2019)[4]
- Monumental Alumni recognition from The George Washington University[2]
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