Executive News: Page 5
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Scott Olson via Getty Images
Shake Shack hires Papa Johns’ Rob Lynch as CEO
Lynch will succeed Randy Garutti, who has been at the burger chain for over 20 years, on May 20.
By Julie Littman • Updated March 21, 2024 -
Permission granted by Smashburger
Smashburger appoints Starbucks veteran as CEO
Denise Nelsen, former SVP of U.S. operations at Starbucks, started her new role overseeing Smashburger’s growth and menu innovation in January.
By Julie Littman • March 20, 2024 -
Permission granted by Taco John's
Ex-Auntie Anne’s president joins Taco John’s as CEO
Heather Neary replaces longtime CEO Jim Creel as the taco chain looks to grow within its existing markets and to enter new areas.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 20, 2024 -
Permission granted by Handel's Ice Cream
Handel’s Ice Cream hires former Wetzel’s Pretzels chief as CEO
Jennifer Schuler joins the 130-unit brand after nine years at Wetzel’s, including five years as CEO, as the chain expects to surpass $130 million in systemwide sales this year.
By Julie Littman • March 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of McDonald's
McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski to become board chair
After eight years as chair and 28 years on McDonald’s board, Enrique Hernandez will retire at the chain’s annual shareholder meeting later this year.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of Starbucks, Joshua Trujillo
Starbucks adds regional CEOs, eliminates CMO post
The chain added CEOs for its North America and international divisions to give those regions more autonomy as it pursues its ambitious reinvention plan.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of Qdoba
Qdoba hires Little Caesars exec as chief development officer
Jeremy Vitaro joins the 750-unit chain as it tries to double its store count to 1,500 units in a decade.
By Julie Littman • March 18, 2024 -
Retrieved from 7-Eleven.
7-Eleven taps former McDonald’s and Wendy’s exec to lead restaurant operations
William Armstrong, who spent over a decade with both fast food brands, will spearhead the division that includes Laredo Taco Company and Raise the Roost Chicken & Biscuits.
By Brett Dworski • March 18, 2024 -
Permission granted by &pizza
How &pizza’s new CEO is transforming the chain’s loyalty program, operations
Burns, who has held the position for over two months, is leading a major tech overhaul at the chain, including a new rewards scheme, app and website.
By Julie Littman • March 14, 2024 -
Courtesy of Popeyes
RBI names CFO, shakes up leadership
The company named Sami Siddiqui as its CFO while Jeff Klein will fill Siddiqui’s previous role as president of Popeyes U.S. Thiago Santelmo was also promoted to president of international.
By Julie Littman • March 14, 2024 -
Permission granted by Noodles & Company
Noodles & Company names Drew Madsen CEO, preps for menu overhaul
After three quarters of sliding sales, Madsen will oversee menu changes and digital strategies to woo lapsed and new customers after a tough year.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • March 8, 2024 -
Permission granted by Chili's
Brinker appoints new CIO, CFO
The company is replacing its outgoing financial chief with in-house talent, and hired a long-serving KFC exec to lead its technological upgrades as it battles sliding traffic.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 27, 2024 -
Scott Olson via Getty Images
Shake Shack promotes Michael Kark to expanded global licensing role
Kark, who has been with the chain for nearly 12 years, will focus on expanding its international footprint and partnering with more licensed operators.
By Julie Littman • Feb. 15, 2024 -
Permission granted by Whataburger
Whataburger hires CMO
Scott Hudler joins the chain effective Feb. 21 and has significant experience leading restaurant marketing at Torchy’s Tacos and Dunkin’.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Feb. 15, 2024 -
Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco appoints former Taco Bell exec as CEO
Liz Williams, who served in various leadership positions at Taco Bell, including international president, will take over for interim CEO Maria Hollandsworth.
By Julie Littman • Updated Feb. 13, 2024 -
Permission granted by Ascent Hospitality Management
Ascent Hospitality bolsters C-suite with CTO, Perkins president hires
Toni Ronayne will lead Perkins after serving as managing director, Canada at Little Caesars, while Steven Roach becomes chief technology officer after working at Focus Brands.
By Julie Littman • Feb. 5, 2024 -
Permission granted by Sweetgreen
Sweetgreen hires former Starbucks exec Rossann Williams as COO
Williams, who left Starbucks in 2022 following a corporate reshuffle, will oversee operations, real estate and development and supply chain.
By Julie Littman • Feb. 5, 2024 -
Courtesy of Inspire Brands
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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 31, 2024 -
Permission granted by Papa Johns
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 Julie Littman • Jan. 29, 2024 -
Courtesy of Dine Brands
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 Julie Littman • Jan. 19, 2024 -
Courtesy of PepsiCo
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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Jan. 18, 2024 -
Courtesy of Wendy's
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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 17, 2024 -
Courtesy of KFC
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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 17, 2024 -
Courtesy of Bonchon
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 Julie Littman • Jan. 16, 2024 -
Retrieved from Taco Bell Corp. on August 25, 2022
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 Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Jan. 11, 2024
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