Executive News: Page 3

  • Jason Maceda, Inspire Brands' new chief development officer, smiles in front of some branded items.
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    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
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    Inspire Brands promotes Jason Maceda to development chief

    Maceda will oversee the restaurant company’s franchise growth as part of a reorganization of its corporate structure.

    By • Jan. 31, 2024
  • An image of Amanda Clark, COO, international of Papa Johns
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    Permission granted by Papa Johns
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    Papa Johns international COO resigns

    Amanda Clark, who has been with the company since 2020, will leave the chain on March 1 to become CEO of another franchise.

    By • Jan. 29, 2024
  • A photograph of Scott Gladstone, Dine Brands international president and chief development officer
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Dine Brands creates chief development officer role

    Scott Gladstone, who was promoted to international president in January 2023, gains the role of CDO and will focus on global franchise development.

    By • Jan. 19, 2024
  • Incoming Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner smiles in a portrait photograph from his previous role at Pepsi
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    Courtesy of PepsiCo
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    Wendy’s names PepsiCo exec as CEO

    Todd Penegor is stepping down as Wendy’s president and CEO, a post he’s held since 2016, and will be replaced by Kirk Tanner, effective Feb. 5.

    By • Updated Jan. 18, 2024
  • A portrait photograph of Tatiana Lambert, Wendy's new U.S. chief development officer.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s hires Yum exec to lead US development

    Tatiana Lambert will lead the company’s domestic expansion as it looks to grow its franchisee base and build new restaurant formats.

    By • Jan. 17, 2024
  • Thuthuka Nxumalo, KFC U.S. COO, effective Feb. 5, and Christophe Poirier, KFC U.S. chief new concept officer, effective Feb. 1.
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    Courtesy of KFC
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    KFC appoints US operations chief and new concept officer

    Thuthuka Nxumalo and Christophe Poirier will join the brand’s American C-suite from other divisions of Yum Brands as KFC looks to modernize its concept.

    By • Jan. 17, 2024
  • A portrait photo of Suzie Tsai, Bonchon U.S.'s new chief growth officer.
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    Courtesy of Bonchon
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    Bonchon names US CEO

    Suzie Tsai, who joined the chain as chief growth officer in August, becomes the Korean fried chicken chain’s U.S. CEO as it plans to double its presence in the country within five years.

    By • Jan. 16, 2024
  • Blue and purple Taco Bell sauce packets are inscribed with messages against a metaverse-themed backdrop.
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    Retrieved from Taco Bell Corp. on August 25, 2022
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    Yum names Pizza Hut exec as chief digital and technology officer

    Joe Park, who directed the rollout of Pizza Hut’s managerial tool HutBot and early deployments of Dragontail AI, assumes his role on March 1.

    By • Jan. 11, 2024
  • 7-Eleven
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    Courtesy of 7-Eleven
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    7-Eleven’s top foodservice executive departs

    Jack Stout, who before last summer was the retailer’s chief merchandising officer for nearly five years, left the company at the end of 2023.

    By Brett Dworski • Jan. 8, 2024
  • Beth Scott, Mod Pizza CEO
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    Courtesy of Mod Pizza
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    Mod Pizza hires Cooper’s Hawk exec as CEO

    Beth Scott assumes the fast casual pizza chain’s top post and co-founder Scott Svenson steps down after 15 years to serve as executive chairman.

    By • Updated Jan. 8, 2024
  • Dutch Bros Coffee's president, Christine Barone will replace Joth Ricci as CEO. Pictured is a Dutch Bros unit.
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    Permission granted by Dutch Bros
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    Dutch Bros brings on 3 C-suite execs

    Joshua Guenser, previously of Mod Pizza, becomes CFO while Sumitro Ghosh, previously from Nike, will take the president of operations post and Jess Elmquist, previously of Phenom People, becomes chief people officer.

    By • Jan. 8, 2024
  • The prize center inside a Dave & Buster's restaurant
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    Michael Loccisano/FilmMagic via Getty Images
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    Dave & Buster’s CFO retires

    Michael Quartieri, who led the chain’s financial operations through its acquisition of Main Event, will depart on April 30, 2024.

    By • Dec. 21, 2023
  • A portrait photo of Rick Brown, CFO of Brix Holdings
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    Permission granted by Brix Holdings
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    Brix hires TGI Fridays alum as CFO

    Rick Brown, who previously served in leadership roles at TGI Fridays for 14 years, joins Brix as the company plans rapid growth across all of its brands.

    By • Dec. 19, 2023
  • An exterior image of a restaurant with glass windows and a sign that says sweetgreen.
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    Retrieved from Sweetgreen/BusinessWire on August 10, 2022
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    Sweetgreen chief development officer will step down

    Jim McPhail will leave the company on Dec. 31 after working as CDO for four years, and Timothy Noonan has been promoted to SVP of development and will assume McPhail’s development responsibilities.

    By • Dec. 18, 2023
  • Wingstop's new Dallas location will serve as a laboratory for new restaurant layouts.
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    Courtesy of Wingstop
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    Wingstop names CIO

    Chris Fallon joins the wing brand as it prepares to roll out a $50 million in-house technology platform built to allow it to leave Olo’s system.

    By • Dec. 15, 2023
  • An image of Ray Risley, U.S. president and COO at TGI Fridays and Nik Rupp, CFO of TGI Fridays
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    Permission granted by TGI Fridays
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    TGI Fridays hires COO, CFO

    Ray Risley becomes U.S. president and COO while Nik Rupp joins the chain as CFO and president of international markets, less than two months after Weldon Spangler was hired as CEO.

    By • Dec. 13, 2023
  • A photograph of Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti jumping in the air in front of a Shake Shack
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    Courtesy of Shake Shack
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    Shake Shack CEO Randy Garutti to retire in 2024

    Garutti, who became the chain’s CEO in 2011, will depart the company as it prepares to open 80 units next year and expand its drive-thru footprint.

    By • Dec. 11, 2023
  • An image of Craig LeMieux, CEO of Rock N Roll Sushi and Terri Jessen, VP of operations
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    Permission granted by Rock N Roll Sushi
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    Rock N Roll Sushi hires experienced franchise exec as CEO

    Craig LeMieux, who has decades of franchising experience, will lead the chain as its top executive. Terri Jessen was appointed VP of operations.

    By • Dec. 7, 2023
  • An exterior shot of a Red Robin restaurant, which is lit from inside, at night
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    The image by Cbraccialini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Red Robin appoints chief people officer

    Meghan Spuler joins the casual chain in the midst of its ongoing North Star Plan transformation, which includes a new staffing model.

    By • Dec. 7, 2023
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    Permission granted by Huddle House
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    Huddle House hires former Long John Silver’s CEO as brand president

    Blain Shortreed, who has over 30 years of restaurant experience, will oversee company operations, franchising, marketing and culinary innovation.

    By • Dec. 4, 2023
  • Justin Murakami was promoted to COO of Sprinkles in Nov. 2023.
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    Courtesy of Sprinkles
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    Sprinkles promotes new COO

    Justin Murakami will lead operations as the company prepares to expand its network of production and pantry bakeries, as well as its cupcake “ATMs.”

    By • Dec. 1, 2023
  • A portrait photo of Dominique Bertolone, incoming president of Maggiano's little italy.
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    Courtesy of Brinker
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    Brinker appoints MGM Resorts exec as Maggiano’s president

    Dominique Bertolone joins the casual dining Italian brand as it faces sliding traffic and looks to resume growth.

    By • Dec. 1, 2023
  • Checkers fries
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    Courtesy of Checkers & Rally's
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    Checkers and Rally’s names CFO, CMO

    Michael Blair, previously at Miller’s Ale House, joins the chain as CFO, while Scott Johnson, previously at Jollibee, takes the CMO role.

    By • Nov. 17, 2023
  • An image of Jeff Shepherd, Subway CFO, in front of a green and white Subway logo
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway names CFO

    Jeff Shepherd brings nearly 30 years of financial experience to his position at Subway and succeeds Ben Wells, who joined the chain in December 2019.

    By • Nov. 15, 2023
  • An evening photo of Uncle Julio's restaurant with dim lighting
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    Courtesy of Uncle Julio's
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    Uncle Julio’s hires CEO, COO

    Scott Lawton adds the CEO role at Uncle Julio's to his resume, while RJ Thomas, former CEO of King's Seafood Company, becomes president and COO.

    By • Nov. 13, 2023