Executive News

  • An image of a person in a coat in front of an orange background with the Togo's logo.
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    Permission granted by Togo's Sandwiches
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    Togo’s Sandwiches former CEO retakes the helm

    Glenn Lunde, who was at the brand for five years before joining Yoshinoya’s, will reprise his role with a focus on digital channels and franchised growth.

    By • Sept. 10, 2025
  • A smiling white man in a suit. He's wearing a jacket with peaked lapels and no tie, for what it's worth.
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    Permission granted by Starbucks
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    By the numbers: Starbucks’ first year under CEO Brian Niccol

    What’s changed 12 months after the chain’s dramatic restaurant leadership shakeup? The numbers reveal a mix of store growth, declining comp sales and continued labor strife. 

    By • Sept. 9, 2025
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    Permission granted by Benihana/The One Group Hospitality
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    The One Group Hospitality promotes Benihana exec to CFO

    Nicole Thaung, who has been at the Japanese chain for 15 years, becomes the parent company’s top financial executive following Tyler Loy’s departure.

    By • Sept. 9, 2025
  • A portrait of Sean Tresvant, Taco Bell's incoming CEO.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Yum prepares for CEO swap with more exec changes

    As Chris Turner prepares to take over Yum, Taco Bell’s parent company promoted three leaders, including a CFO, and will add a chief scale officer role.

    By • Sept. 9, 2025
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    Courtesy of Portillo's
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    Portillo’s hires Marco’s Pizza exec as CMO

    Denise Lauer will help enhance the fast casual chain’s digital capabilities and boost guest engagement and brand awareness.

    By • Sept. 8, 2025
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Sweetgreen hires Chipotle vet as CFO

    Mitch Reback will retire after serving in his post for a decade with Jamie McConnell, former Chipotle exec, taking his place.

    By • Sept. 5, 2025
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Andrew Wiederhorn returns as Fat Brands CEO

    The shift in leadership comes after the U.S. Department of Justice dropped fraud charges against Fat Brands and Wiederhorn in July.

    By • Sept. 3, 2025
  • An image of a person holding an iced coffee drink and standing in front of a beige brick building with a Caribou Coffee logo.
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    Courtesy of Caribou Coffee
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    Caribou Coffee names permanent CEO

    Scott Kennedy, who has served as interim CEO since March, has become president and CEO of the coffee chain.

    By • Sept. 3, 2025
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    Courtesy of Jersey Mike's
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    Jersey Mike’s appoints Wingstop vet as president, COO

    Stacy Peterson will lead U.S. operations, marketing and technology as the company continues to open roughly 300 domestic units a year.

    By • Sept. 3, 2025
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    Permission granted by Sweetgreen
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    Sweetgreen hires former Taco Bell exec as chief commercial officer

    Zipporah Allen, a major architect of Taco Bell’s digital transformation, has joined the embattled salad brand as it looks to rebuild traffic and sales.

    By • Sept. 2, 2025
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    Courtesy of Applebee's
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    Applebee’s appoints operations, marketing chiefs

    Following a strong Q2, Dine Brands will bring on Jerrold Wong as COO and Michelle Chin as CMO to extend Applebee’s recent successes.

    By • Aug. 25, 2025
  • A photograph of a person wearing a long-sleeved white shirt standing in front of a green background with a Subway logo.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway hires president of North America

    Damien Harmon joins the chain alongside two other regional presidents assigned to accelerate sustainable growth and boost franchisee profitability.

    By • Aug. 20, 2025
  • An image of a building with Texas Roadhouse signage
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    Texas Roadhouse promotes chief growth officer

    Lloyd Paul Marshall, who has worked at the company for almost three decades, will now oversee construction, design and real estate, among other functions.

    By • Aug. 18, 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 COO from Flynn Group

    Jessica Reicher brings considerable operations experience from her work at Nando’s, Fuddrucker’s and Yum Brands to the growing burger brand.

    By • Aug. 14, 2025
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    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
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    Noodles & Company promotes COO to CEO

    Joe Christina, who joined the company in February, will replace Drew Madsen, who led the brand’s sweeping menu overhaul.

    By • Aug. 6, 2025
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    Courtesy of Smashburger
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    Smashburger promotes president to CEO

    Jim Sullivan, who was brought on in 2024 as chief development officer, will focus on reversing the brand’s declining storecount through non-traditional development.

    By • Aug. 5, 2025
  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on a cold day.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Bloomin’ Brands hires new CFO among a series of leadership changes

    The company also created an executive position for strategy and transformation to help improve the performance of Outback Steakhouse.

    By • Aug. 4, 2025
  • An image of Topgolf's CEO
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Topgolf spinoff delayed amid CEO’s departure

    Artie Starrs, who has led the company since 2021, will leave his post in the fall to become the top executive at an undisclosed company.

    By • Aug. 1, 2025
  • A photograph of a burger, drink and fries from Fatburger.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    DOJ drops charges against Fat Brands, Andy Wiederhorn

    The original indictment alleged misconduct over a loan scheme involving $47 million transferred from Fat and Fog Cutter Capital to Wiederhorn.

    By • July 30, 2025
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    Permission granted by Yum Brands
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    KFC US hires chief growth officer

    Tiffany Furman joins the chain from The Habit Burger & Grill, where she helped oversee the brand’s transformation after its acquisition by Yum.

    By • July 25, 2025
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    Permission granted by Bonchon
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    Bonchon signals speedy US growth with new hires

    The Korean fried chicken chain plans to expand its global system from about 500 stores to 1,000 in five years, with the U.S. accounting for much of that development.

    By • July 24, 2025
  • An image of a red sign with white logo that says "Wendy's." Above the sign is an cartoon image of a girl with red hair and pigtails with blue bows.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s replaces outgoing US president

    Pete Suerken, CEO and president of Wendy’s independent purchasing cooperative, will succeed long-time executive Abigail Pringle on Aug. 15. 

    By • July 23, 2025
  • A smiling person stands in front of a green background with a yellow "Subway" logo visible.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway taps Burger King vet as CEO

    Jonathan Fitzpatrick will take the sandwich chain’s top spot on July 28, and inherits AUV struggles and an ongoing push to modernize its menu.

    By , • Updated July 21, 2025
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    Permission granted by Shake Shack
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    Shake Shack hires Raising Cane’s vet as chief people officer

    Jamie Griffin joins the chain as its top HR executive and will focus on areas like talent acquisition, the team member experience and leadership development.

    By • July 18, 2025
  • The outside of a Dave & Buster's restaurant.
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    JHVEPhoto via Getty Images
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    Dave & Buster’s hires ex-KFC US president as CEO

    Tarun Lal brings 25 years of experience at Yum Brands to the eatertainment chain, which has struggled with quarterly same-store sales declines.

    By • Updated July 15, 2025