Executive News

  • 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
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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
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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
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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
  • 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
  • The exterior of a Benihana
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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
  • People wait in line to enter a building with a sweetgreen logo at the top.
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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
  • An image of a person wearing a blue shirt in front of a white background.
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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
  • A hand holds a smartphone with the screen showing different rewards available from Sweetgreen's rewards program.
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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
  • A smiling white man in a burgundy Noodles & Company shirt.
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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