Name: Rita Patel
New title: Chief marketing officer, Arby’s
Previous title: Chief marketing officer, Buffalo Wild Wings
Patel’s appointment as Arby’s CMO was announced Wednesday. She will report directly to Arby’s president Jim Taylor. Patel will be responsible for the brand’s strategy, menu changes, advertising and marketing communications, according to a company press release.
Patel has worked for Inspire since 2020 when she joined Buffalo Wild Wings after a stint as VP of brand management at Target. While at Buffalo Wild Wings, Patel helped the chain launch several new menu items while also coordinating between franchisees, marketing teams and suppliers.
Arby’s previous CMO, Patrick Schwing, oversaw a series of campaigns to improve the brand’s visibility, including a diss track from Pusha T that denigrated the fish sandwiches of other major brands. Arby’s has also capitalized on viral trends to offer limited changes to its menu in an effort to connect with customers on TikTok.
