Name: Michael Casey

New title: Chief Development Officer, SPB Hospitality

Previous title: Chief Development Officer, Ideal Image

Casey has over 20 years of real estate and development experience, including nearly a decade working with restaurant brands, according to a press release emailed to Restaurant Dive. He began his career as director of development, national portfolio manager for Yum Brands, according to his LinkedIn profile. He has also worked at Jamba and Bloomin’ Brands. In these roles, he managed the “development of new units and teams of people, all while driving growth initiatives and brand strategy,” according to the press release.

Casey also has experience with other businesses, including Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc. and JPMorgan Chase. In his most recent position with Ideal Image, he overhauled the development function, including lease administration and renewal, landlord relations and facilities management, according to the press release. 

His extensive experience will be helpful in his new role, where he will oversee real estate, licensing, franchising and development for SPB’s portfolio of brands, which include J. Alexander’s, Krystal, Logan’s Roadhouse and Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom. Krystal, which restarted franchising a few years ago, is particularly primed for growth and plans to grow to 500 units by 2027. 

“Michael has demonstrated his ability to successfully represent a myriad of franchise concepts both within and outside the hospitality space. His knowledge of the markets, the brokers, multi-unit franchisees seeking expansion, along with a keen business sense will help our brands work together to offer operators more customized growth packages than ever before,” said Josh Kern, CEO at SPB Hospitality. 

Casey’s appointment comes a month after Kern became permanent CEO of the company after a stint as interim CEO.