Dive Brief:
- Inspire Brands has promoted and hired several new executives across a range of its brands, the company said in a Wednesday press release.
- The most significant move, from a structural perspective, is the creation of a president role at Buffalo Wild Wings Go, Inspire’s fast casual spinoff of its sports bar concept. The spinoff opened its 200th unit earlier this year, and the appointment of Leandro Gasparin as its president likely signals bigger plans for the brand.
- The company also hired John Dawson as president of U.S. development; promoted Tristan Meline to brand president of Buffalo Wild Wings Sports Bars; promoted John Kelly to brand president of Sonic Drive-In; and named Jon Gill president of Inspire company restaurants.
Dive Insight:
Inspire said the appointments are intended to accelerate the pace of growth across the company’s portfolio or brands.
Dawson will direct domestic development, new restaurant openings, market planning, architecture and design, franchise sales, real estate and construction for Inspire’s vast system. He brings extensive experience from similar roles at McDonald’s and Dunkin’ Brands, per the press release.
Meline’s promotion to head of Buffalo Wild Wings follows a successful period as chief marketing officer for the brand. His new role will combine brand strategy, marketing and advertising with leadership of the sports bar business. He succeeds John Bowie, who is retiring.
Gasparin’s newly created role is meant to support “the significant growth planned for BWW Go,” according to the press release. He brings operational experience from Popeyes and Burger King and most recently served as COO at Oakberry, a fast-growing Brazil-based açaí berry bowl and smoothie brand. Gasparin, according to his LinkedIn profile, spent about three and a half years with the chain. Hiring an executive from a fast-growing fast casual concept signals intentions Inspire has for BWW Go, which will be a competitor to other wing-focused brands, like Wingstop.
Kelly, meanwhile, is moving from the presidency of Inspire’s company-operated restaurants to the leadership of Sonic, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was in his previous post for over three years and has spent over two decades with Inspire and Arby’s.
Gill, who most recently served as senior vice president of Arby’s Company Restaurants per the press release, will succeed Kelly in that role. Gill has spent 20 years with Inspire and Arby’s.
In 2023, Inspire reworked its corporate structure, setting up three divisions specifically to handle brands, commercial and company restaurants and growth. Scott Murphy, the chief brand officer, will oversee Kelly and Dawson, while Gasparin, Gill and Meline will report to Dan Lynn, the chief restaurant and commercial officer.
Inspire also recently hired Kelly McCulloch, formerly of Yum Brands and Walmart, as its chief people officer. The company has been expanding across its system, hitting 10,000 U.S. locations for Dunkin’ and growing BWW Go into a meaningful fast casual presence. The company is also moving to take advantage of new menu trends, testing a new cold coffee lineup at Sonic.
