Executive News

  • A sign that says "Since 1956 Jersey Miek's Subs"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jersey Mike’s hires Charlie Morrison as CEO

    Morrison, former CEO of Wingstop and Salad and Go, takes over for Peter Cancro, who has led the chain for 50 years. 

    By , • Updated April 24, 2025
  • The sign on a Red Robin restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    GJ Hart resigns as Red Robin CEO

    Hart, who led the brand through the first two years of its “North Star” reinvention plan, will be replaced by Board Chairman David Pace.

    By • Updated April 24, 2025
  • An iamge of a delivery driver in front of a Nando's restaurant.
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    Catherine Ivill via Getty Images
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    Nando’s Peri-Peri hires Ruby Tuesday vet as CEO

    Kimberly Grant, who is also former CEO of Jose Andres Group, will oversee the chain’s growth as it opens more company-owned locations in the U.S.

    By • April 22, 2025
  • A white man in gray pants, a polo, a blue windowpane checked sportcoat and a baseball cap stands in front of a salad restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Salad and Go
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    Salad and Go hires former Krispy Kreme head as CEO

    The salad chain’s central kitchen operating model bears a resemblance to the doughnut maker’s hub-and-spoke structure, which Mike Tattersfield has seven years of experience leading.

    By • April 22, 2025
  • An image of a building with a sign that says "Sweetgreen."
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    Courtesy of Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen COO Rossann Williams resigns

    Williams will remain with the chain until June as an advisor after stepping down from a role she held for over a year.

    By • April 18, 2025
  • A person holds a smartphone that displays Burger King's AI Whopper experience.
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King poaches Applebee’s CMO to build on modernization plan

    Joel Yashinsky is tasked with driving an expansive Reclaim the Flame strategy that has produced viral marketing like the Whopper jingle. 

    By Peter Adams • April 14, 2025
  • A photograph of a restaurant with the words Huddle House on the side.
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    Permission granted by Huddle House
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    Ascent Hospitality promotes Blain Shortreed to COO

    Shortreed, who joined the company in 2023 as Huddle House president, will focus on strategic growth, operations and franchise relations in his new role.  

    By • April 10, 2025
  • A Jack in the Box sign looms ominously from behind a hedge.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    9 of the biggest restaurant CEO hires of Q1

    The first three months of the year brought new leaders to Jack in the Box, CKE Restaurants, Church’s Texas Chicken, Panera Brands and more. 

    By • April 9, 2025
  • A person holds a Subway sandwich and drink cup
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    Permission granted by Subway
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    Subway hires CMO from PepsiCo beverages to lead global marketing

    Greg Lyons, who left the beverage giant late last month, will join the sandwich chain on the tail of a recent creative agency switch-up. 

    By Peter Adams • April 9, 2025
  • A smiling white man in a black polo against an orange background.
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    Courtesy of Smalls Sliders
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    Smalls Sliders names former Tropical Smoothie Cafe chief as CEO

    The chain is betting Charles Watson can bring some of the development magic from Tropical Smoothie Cafe, but the macroeconomy may have other ideas.

    By • April 8, 2025
  • Gavel sitting on cash
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    Avosb via Getty Images
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    Just Salad ex-CFO missed out on $1.2M, lawsuit claims

    The former finance chief is seeking funds he claims he’s owed relating to a separation agreement, as well as $5 million in damages.

    By Grace Noto • April 3, 2025
  • A portrait of a person dressed in a suit in front of a gray background.
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    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
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    P.F. Chang’s promotes COO Brad Hill to CEO

    Hill, who has been at the company for nearly eight years, steps into the role following Eduardo Luz’s departure.

    By • Updated April 2, 2025
  • An image of purple cups that say PJ's coffee house
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    Retrieved from PJ's Coffee of New Orleans on April 01, 2025
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    PJ’s Coffee parent company CEO to retire

    Peter Boylan, who has headed up Ballard Brands since 2016, will remain on as an advisor while David Mesa takes over as president of franchise development.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box hires Lance Tucker as permanent CEO

    Tucker, who rejoined the chain as CFO late last year, said the company needs to make priority changes quickly to reverse same-store sales problems.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • An image of a smiling woman in front of a white background.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles appoints former KFC exec as chief legal officer

    Kate Ward, who worked at KFC for nine years, becomes Bojangles’ top legal executive as the chain pushes for 1,000 units.

    By • March 31, 2025
  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant in the daytime.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Twin Peaks CEO resigns

    Joe Hummel will leave the company on April 10 along with Chief Legal Officer Clay Mingus, both of whom have been at the brand for over seven years.

    By • March 31, 2025
  • Pedestrians walk by a KFC and a Taco Bell restaurant on July 2, 2014 in San Rafael, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs will retire next year

    Under Gibbs, the company added more than 10,000 restaurants, acquired the Habit Burger & Grill and grew sales by $13 billion.

    By • March 31, 2025
  • An image of a man with his arms crossed. He is wearing a gray sweater and smiling at the camera. He is in front of a white background.
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    Permission granted by Rego Restaurant Group
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    Rego Restaurant hires CEO

    Neel Patel will oversee the Quiznos and Taco del Mar brands, which have been growing through franchising and deals with Ghost Kitchen International.

    By • March 27, 2025
  • An image of a smiling bald man wearing a navy suit in front of a gray background.
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    Permission granted by Panera Brands
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    Panera Brands hires permanent CEO

    Paul Carbone, who has been interim CEO since January, will focus on a multi-year plan to boost the company’s teams, guest experience and franchise profitability.

    By • March 26, 2025
  • A Whatburger storefront. A sign outside reads, "Whataburger".
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    Courtesy of https://stories.whataburger.com/press-kit
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    Whataburger hires former McDonald’s exec as chief development officer

    Todd Ewen, who has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience, joins the brand as it plans to expand into its 17th state after surpassing 1,000 units.

    By • March 25, 2025
  • An image of a man in a suite smiling in front of a red backround with beigh spoons.
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    Courtesy of International Dairy Queen
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    International Dairy Queen taps former Domino’s exec as COO

    Art D’Elia will oversee operations, training and marketing in his new role at the chain, which is actively growing its system around the world.

    By • March 18, 2025
  • Coffee drips into a white ceramic mug emblazoned with the Starbucks logo
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Brian Niccol’s 6-month update on Starbucks turnaround plan

    The coffee chain’s CEO said investments in store experience are ramping up, but union members say the brand isn’t spending enough on hourly workers.

    By • Updated March 13, 2025
  • A Domino's Pizza in Eugene Or.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s promotes long-time exec to COO, US president

    Joseph Jordan, who has been with the chain since 2011, was elevated to the role as part of a larger change in the pizza chain’s organizational structure.

    By • March 11, 2025
  • An image of a man wearing a suit in front of a beige brick wall with a giant smiling star in the background.
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants
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    Carl’s Jr parent appoints Joe Guith as CEO

    Guith spent the past two years at Church’s Texas Chicken, where he repositioned the brand and improved unit-level profitability.

    By • Updated March 6, 2025
  • A picture of an A&W located at a gas station.
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    Permission granted by A&W
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    A&W promotes COO to CEO post

    Betsy Schmandt, who has been with the company for 18 months, will work on enhancing the brand’s position, focus on value and continue the chain’s growth trajectory.

    By • March 4, 2025