Dive Brief:

• Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux has hired Chis Porcelli as CFO and Jennifer Pecoraro-Striepling as chief development officer, the company said Tuesday in a press release.
• Porcelli brings over 15 years of accounting and operations experience, while Pecoraro-Striepling has two decades of experience in design, construction, facilities, real estate and franchising. 
• These C-suite additions are part of CEO Chris Dawson’s strategy to build up the brand’s leadership to help guide Walk-On’s through its ongoing growth period. Dawson, who became CEO in June, hired a new COO in August. The chain has been without a CFO since Sam Patterson left in September 2022. The chief development officer is a new role, the company said.

Dive Insight:

The new C-suite hires will likely have to hit the ground running. Walk-On’s is currently on a strong expansion path, with plans to open its 100th unit early next year, and a 100-unit development pipeline. 

“Both Chris and Jennifer bring a wealth of experience and proven leadership in their respective fields, which will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux,” Dawson said. “Their expertise will be instrumental in driving our brand forward, enhancing our financial performance, and expanding our presence.”

In his new role, Porcelli will oversee “finance, accounting, analytics, supply chain and human resources for the brand,” the company said. He most recently worked at Driven Brands, the largest automotive services company in North America. Prior to that role, he worked at Maaco, where he focused on helping the company and its franchisees through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pecoraro-Striepling will oversee the brand’s development initiatives as it expands nationwide. She previously worked at Papa Johns as vice president of design, construction, facilities and franchise sales for over three years, according to her LinkedIn profile. Prior to Papa Johns, she worked for eight years in various design and construction positions at Bloomin’ Brands. She also has experience at Kohl’s and Darden.