Name: Lucas Bravo
New title: Chief financial officer, Blaze Pizza
Previous title: Senior vice president, finance and corporate treasurer, ICAT Logistics
Lucas Bravo joins Blaze Pizza from freight forwarder ICAT Logistics, where he served in financial leadership starting in mid-2025, according to his LinkedIn profile. Prior to that, he spent almost eight years with GoTo Foods, formerly known as Focus Brands, rising to SVP of finance. Earlier in his career, according to his LinkedIn, he spent about seven years at Burger King in various financial positions, giving him extensive restaurant finance experience.
As CFO, Bravo will direct Blaze’s financial strategy, accounting, treasury, planning and analysis. He will also oversee supply chain and franchise administration and compliance, according to a press release announcing his appointment.
John Owen, Blaze’s CEO, said Bravo was selected for his “financial discipline, analytical rigor, and operational insight,” adding that Bravo has expertise in modernizing financial operations.
According to the press release, Bravo will help Blaze open its next growth phase. The brand has struggled with a shrinking store count recently, shedding 30 units in 2024 and 36 in 2025. It started this year with 230 locations, according to its franchise disclosure document.
This decline in storecount is in general keeping with the wider troubles in the fast casual pizza segment, where many chains, including Mod Pizza, have struggled and faced closures. Competitor Pieology filed for bankruptcy after attempting a turnaround.
Blaze has not been idle in trying to increase its sales and generate some growth momentum. In 2024, the brand began a menu overhaul with five new signature pizzas. Last year, in partnership with guest engagement platform Thanx, Blaze launched a new app and overhauled its loyalty program to add in-app exclusive and secret menus.
In mid-2025, the chain brought on Starbucks vet Jaime Denny as its chief operations officer. In January, Owen, the former COO of Scooter’s Coffee, joined its CEO, succeeding Beto Guajardo.
