Executive News

  • An exterior image of a Shake Shack restaurant
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack CFO to step down

    The chain has remade much of its C-suite since hiring Rob Lynch as CEO in 2024, and will set up a new financial operations office as Katie Fogerty departs.

    By • Nov. 25, 2025
  • A Cracker Barrel sign hangs on the outside of a restaurant.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel CEO survives ouster attempt, board shrinks

    Sardar Biglari’s latest jab at the casual chain’s leadership failed to remove CEO Julie Masino, but succeeded in ousting board member Gilbert Dávila.

    By • Nov. 24, 2025
  • Papa John's pizza box is seen on July 11, 2018 in Miami, Florida
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Papa Johns CFO gains dual role, salary bump

    Appointing its finance chief Ravi Thanawala to the dual role of CFO and president could signal additional belt-tightening by the pizza chain, Cowen Partners’ Shawn Cole said.

    By Grace Noto • Nov. 19, 2025
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    Courtesy of GoTo Foods
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    Auntie Anne’s hires Chili’s vet as chief brand officer

    Nathan Baldwin joins GoTo Food’s pretzel chain in the midst of a brand refresh and push to develop more streetside locations and co-branded restaurants.

    By • Nov. 18, 2025
  • An image of a person smiling and wearing a gray suit.
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    Courtesy of P.F. Chang's
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    P.F. Chang’s hires CEO

    Jim Mazany brings decades of restaurant executive experience to the Asian chain, which is poised to ramp up growth and refine its fast casual concept. 

    By • Updated Nov. 11, 2025
  • An image of a brown building with BJ's logo.
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    Permission granted by BJ's Restaurant
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    BJ’s Restaurants hires Red Robin exec as CFO

    Todd Wilson will join the company in December and will help improve the brand’s financial foundation and help it achieve its long-term strategic goals.

    By • Nov. 6, 2025
  • A photogrpah of a multi-colored building with a sign in red that says "Red Robin."
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    CRobertson via Getty Images
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    Red Robin names COO, CFO departs

    Todd Wilson will leave the company on Dec. 12 after three years at the casual dining chain, which also promoted Jesse Griffith to chief operating officer.

    By • Nov. 6, 2025
  • Popeyes signage
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    RBI appoints new Popeyes US president, Burger King US COO

    Peter Perdue has been promoted to Popeyes U.S. and Canada president, and Nicolas Henrich is now Burger King U.S. chief operating officer.

    By • Nov. 5, 2025
  • An exterior image of a white restaurant with a yellow decoration and signs that say Church's Chicken
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
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    Church’s Texas Chicken hires Jimmy John’s vet as development chief

    Bobby Morena will help the chicken QSR reach its goal of $2 billion in systemwide sales through domestic franchising growth.

    By • Nov. 3, 2025
  • Kelly McCulloch smiles at the camera. She is Inspire Brands chief people officer.
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    Courtesy of Inspire
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    Inspire hires Yum vet to lead HR operations

    Kelly McCulloch brings over two decades of QSR HR experience to her new position, where she will oversee a global system that includes 650,000 workers.

    By • Oct. 28, 2025
  • A photograph of a Potbelly sandwich shop sign.
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    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
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    Potbelly promotes COO to president following RaceTrac buyout

    Adam Noyes has become president of the sandwich chain while CEO Bob Wright will remain in his post through the end of the year. 

    By • Oct. 24, 2025
  • The interior of SeoulSpice's first restaurant in Chicago.
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    Permission granted by SeoulSpice
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    SeoulSpice expands C-suite ahead of national growth

    The Korean food chain brought on four fast casual vets to lead operations, marketing, finance and development. 

    By • Oct. 23, 2025
  • A photograph of a person smiling and sitting at a table
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    Courtesy of Ascent Hospitality Management
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    Ascent Hospitality appoints CEO

    Paul Damico, former Fuzzy’s Taco CEO, succeeds Jim O’Reilly as the restaurant company embarks on its next growth phase, which could include more brand acquisitions.

    By • Updated Oct. 23, 2025
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    Courtesy of Panera Bread
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    Panera Bread hires CFO

    ABM Industries veteran Earl Ellis brings 30 years of financial leadership experience to the fast casual chain, which is in the midst of a transformation.

    By • Oct. 20, 2025
  • An exterior view of a whataburger restaurant including its drive-thru
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    Whataburger taps tech chief to guide infrastructure rollout

    Rohit Kapoor, formerly EVP and CIO at Claire's, will be tasked with leading an expansion of the company's digital infrastructure in support of its growth plans.

    By Roberto Torres • Oct. 17, 2025
  • A person stands in a parking lot with a blurred building with Swig signage in the background.
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    Courtesy of Swig
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    Swig plots aggressive growth with new president, franchise chief

    The dirty soda brand promoted Todd Smith from chief commercial officer to president and hired Shannon Swenson as chief of franchise partnerships.

    By • Oct. 7, 2025
  • A Cracker Barrel sign hangs on the outside of a restaurant.
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Cracker Barrel sacks brand consultancy, shuffles leadership

    The chain fired the firm that advised it on its recent logo and restaurant refresh after significant consumer pushback led to a strategy reversal.

    By • Oct. 3, 2025
  • A Qdoba storefront
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    Retrieved from Qdoba on October 02, 2025
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    Q&A

    Qdoba’s new CMO on turning the fast casual chain into a national brand

    As it rapidly expands, the chain looks to raise awareness with its first national marketing campaign, newly appointed CMO Jon Burke explains.

    By Chris Kelly • Oct. 2, 2025
  • An image of a white and red restaurant with Krystal on the signage
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    SPB Hospitality appoints GJ Hart as CEO

    Hart, former Red Robin CEO, succeeds Josh Kern and will oversee a slimmer multi-brand platform that recently offloaded non-core brands.

    By , • Updated Sept. 29, 2025
  • A person in a suit stands on stage surrounded by a large crowd in the stands.
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Deep Dive

    Why picking the right CEO makes or breaks a restaurant turnaround

    From Starbucks’ Brian Niccol to BJ’s Lyle Tick and Potbelly’s Bob Wright, boards have made headway with executives that implemented strategic improvements to help sales and traffic.

    By • Updated Sept. 29, 2025
  • Wendy's
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    Wendy’s taps restaurant vet to oversee international tech

    Sang Lee brings experience from major food brands as the restaurant chain aims for global expansion.

    By Lindsey Wilkinson • Sept. 26, 2025
  • An image of a store sign that says Shake Shack. To the left is a green neon sign of a burger
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack appoints first chief brand officer

    Michael Fanuele, who has consulted for Shake Shack since early this year, joins the chain as it increases paid media ad spend and marketing.

    By • Sept. 23, 2025
  • An evening shot of a building with white and red coloring and signage that says "Portillo's."
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s replaces CEO

    Michael Osanloo resigned on Monday, and Chairman of the Board Michael Miles became interim CEO. The board is searching for a replacement. 

    By • Sept. 23, 2025
  • Taco Bell's $5, $7 and $9 luxe boxes. Each combo meal contains several items, a side and a drink.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell promotes execs focused on branding, technology

    As the chain works to triple its international store count in five years, these new executive promotions can help replicate the brand’s U.S. success abroad.

    By • Sept. 22, 2025
  • An imae of a white and beige restaurant with red awnings. The center is a logo of a person wearing glasses.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    KFC hires Wingstop marketer as CMO to fire up comeback plan

    Melissa Cash takes over at the Yum chain for Catherine Tan-Gillespie, who was promoted from CMO to president in April.

    By Chris Kelly • Sept. 15, 2025