Jeff Zalla

Co-Founder & Operating Officer

Jeff serves as Operating Partner of Diatom Capital and leads the Company’s strategy, finance and sustainability efforts. Jeff is also CEO of Tufco Flooring and Managing Director of Foxhole Equity, a mid-market private investment firm based in Greater Cincinnati with interests in both operating businesses and real estate. Earlier in his career, Jeff was the award-winning CFO of Chiquita (NYSE), where he also served as Corporate Responsibility Officer, VP of Corporate Communications, and in a variety of strategic and finance roles over 19-years with the Company.

Jeff earned his MBA with distinction from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, with majors in Entrepreneurship and Real Estate, and graduated summa cum laude from Thomas More University. Jeff has an abiding love of sustainability, and served for 15 years on the board of BSR, the leading global not-for-profit organization working with business to create a just and sustainable world.

Jeff and his wife Christina have four adult children and live in Northern Kentucky. Outside of family and work, Jeff immerses himself in natural beauty and the pursuit of fine craftsmanship, especially in woodworking and glassblowing. Jeff is now hand-crafting a 600-square-foot cabin on a 20-acre property in Burlington, Kentucky.

Who We Are