When Grubhub decided to get into the delivery business, the Chicago-based online restaurant ordering company hired Stan Chia away from Amazon, where he had run a billion-dollar toy and game business. He's a logistics whiz who also developed his operational chops at General Electric and Cisco. In just 18 months, the Singapore-born, New York-raised Chia has Grubhub delivering food in more than 50 markets.

CRAIN'S: What's the hardest thing about the food delivery business?

CHIA: I've worked in a variety of industries. This is the most intense. The tolerance for failure is so small, it's crazy. Your expectations are higher. If it's five minutes late, you're mad. Plus traffic is such a big factor—and you don't control it. So we use a lot of "smart" technology. We know how long it takes to get from the Loop to Lakeview at 5:30 p.m., whether you're driving or on a bike.

Are you a foodie?

My Twitter handle is @StanIsHungry. That was five years ago, before I got into the food business. I came up with it when I was in Atlanta because I loved food trucks. The only way I could find out what food trucks were going to be where was on Twitter.

You used to play guitar in a succession of hair bands. What are your prized music possessions?

A Les Paul Studio: I've taken out everything and upgraded it. It's old and battle-scarred. A Paul Reed Smith 10 Top.

You served in the Singapore army, commanding an armored platoon as a lieutenant. Good training for logistics and tech?

I was born in Singapore. They require everyone to serve. Even though I came to New York City when I was 10 months old, I went back to Singapore for high school and served in the army before going to college at Georgia Tech. I was dreading it. But it was the best thing I ever did: You grow up a lot when you go into the army. Core leadership principles that work well in the military work well in everything else.