Executive News: Page 7

  • An image of a smiling woman in front of a white background.
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    Permission granted by Bojangles
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    Bojangles appoints former KFC exec as chief legal officer

    Kate Ward, who worked at KFC for nine years, becomes Bojangles’ top legal executive as the chain pushes for 1,000 units.

    By • March 31, 2025
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Twin Peaks CEO resigns

    Joe Hummel will leave the company on April 10 along with Chief Legal Officer Clay Mingus, both of whom have been at the brand for over seven years.

    By • March 31, 2025
  • Pedestrians walk by a KFC and a Taco Bell restaurant on July 2, 2014 in San Rafael, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Yum Brands CEO David Gibbs will retire next year

    Under Gibbs, the company added more than 10,000 restaurants, acquired the Habit Burger & Grill and grew sales by $13 billion.

    By • March 31, 2025
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    Permission granted by Rego Restaurant Group
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    Rego Restaurant hires CEO

    Neel Patel will oversee the Quiznos and Taco del Mar brands, which have been growing through franchising and deals with Ghost Kitchen International.

    By • March 27, 2025
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    Permission granted by Panera Brands
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    Panera Brands hires permanent CEO

    Paul Carbone, who has been interim CEO since January, will focus on a multi-year plan to boost the company’s teams, guest experience and franchise profitability.

    By • March 26, 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 former McDonald’s exec as chief development officer

    Todd Ewen, who has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience, joins the brand as it plans to expand into its 17th state after surpassing 1,000 units.

    By • March 25, 2025
  • An image of a man in a suite smiling in front of a red backround with beigh spoons.
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    Courtesy of International Dairy Queen
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    International Dairy Queen taps former Domino’s exec as COO

    Art D’Elia will oversee operations, training and marketing in his new role at the chain, which is actively growing its system around the world.

    By • March 18, 2025
  • Coffee drips into a white ceramic mug emblazoned with the Starbucks logo
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Brian Niccol’s 6-month update on Starbucks turnaround plan

    The coffee chain’s CEO said investments in store experience are ramping up, but union members say the brand isn’t spending enough on hourly workers.

    By • Updated March 13, 2025
  • A Domino's Pizza in Eugene Or.
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    Courtesy of Domino's
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    Domino’s promotes long-time exec to COO, US president

    Joseph Jordan, who has been with the chain since 2011, was elevated to the role as part of a larger change in the pizza chain’s organizational structure.

    By • March 11, 2025
  • An image of a man wearing a suit in front of a beige brick wall with a giant smiling star in the background.
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants
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    Carl’s Jr parent appoints Joe Guith as CEO

    Guith spent the past two years at Church’s Texas Chicken, where he repositioned the brand and improved unit-level profitability.

    By • Updated March 6, 2025
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    Permission granted by A&W
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    A&W promotes COO to CEO post

    Betsy Schmandt, who has been with the company for 18 months, will work on enhancing the brand’s position, focus on value and continue the chain’s growth trajectory.

    By • March 4, 2025
  • A Starbucks Store
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks replaces CFO with Walmart, Target vet

    Cathy Smith will replace Rachel Ruggeri at an undetermined date, with Ruggeri remaining for some time to ease the transition.

    By • March 4, 2025
  • An image of Caribou's drive-thru only store Caribou Cabin
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    Permission granted by Caribou Coffee
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    Caribou Coffee appoints CFO as interim CEO

    Scott Kennedy will take on the interim leadership role when John Butcher steps down from his position on March 14.

    By • March 4, 2025
  • A Jack in the Box sign looms ominously from behind a hedge.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box CEO resigns

    Darin Harris has taken a position outside of the restaurant industry, and EVP and CFO Lance Tucker will temporarily assume CEO duties.

    By • Updated Feb. 24, 2025
  • An image of a woman with short brown hair smiling in front of a gray background. She is wearing a red shirt.
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    Courtesy of Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf
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    Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf hires Taco Bell vet as president, head of Americas

    Tara Hinkle, who also spent over a decade at Starbucks, will oversee the chain’s growth strategy in the Americas.

    By • Feb. 21, 2025
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    Courtesy of Bloomin' Brands
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    Bloomin’ Brands lays off 100 corporate employees

    The cuts at its Tampa, Florida, support center represent a 17% reduction and follow corporate layoffs at Dine Brands, Starbucks and Denny’s.

    By • Feb. 21, 2025
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    Courtesy of Church's Texas Chicken
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    Church’s Texas Chicken appoints CEO

    Roland Gonzalez, who served as COO for the past two years, takes over at the chain as it aims to grow systemwide sales from $1.5 billion to $2 billion.

    By • Feb. 21, 2025
  • An image of Joe Christina, CEO at Tijuana Flats.
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    Permission granted by Tijuana Flats
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    Noodles & Company hires Joe Christina as president and COO

    Christina, formerly CEO at Tijuana Flats, joins the chain as it embarks on a long-term menu overhaul and turns the corner on sales struggles.

    By • Feb. 20, 2025
  • A Torchy's Tacos sign shot from a low angle.
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    Getty Images
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    Torchy’s Tacos hires GoTo Foods vet as CEO

    Paul Macaluso, who most recently served as president and CEO of Another Broken Egg Cafe, joins the brand as it invests in tech ahead of a growth push.

    By • Feb. 19, 2025
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    Permission granted by Saucy by KFC
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    KFC US promotes CMO to president

    Catherine Tan-Gillespie will take over from Tarun Lal as U.S. president for the chicken chain on April 1, after a difficult year for sales.

    By • Feb. 13, 2025
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    EG America names new head of branded QSR operations

    The retailer has appointed a leader for its department that recently launched three fresh restaurant concepts.

    By Brett Dworski • Feb. 12, 2025
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    Permission granted by Tropical Smoothie Cafe
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    Tropical Smoothie Cafe hires Baskin-Robbins vet as COO

    Jonathan Biggs joins the company during a rapid growth period. The chain also promoted Chris Sasser to CFO and Karen Wickliffe to general counsel.

    By • Feb. 11, 2025
  • A Panera store.
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    Courtesy of Panera
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    Panera Bread hires Dunkin’ vet as CIO

    Santhosh Kumar, who spent almost two decades in IT roles at Dunkin’, will develop and deploy tech across the chain’s 2,200-plus cafes.

    By • Feb. 7, 2025
  • A photograph of an Applebee's sign.
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Applebee’s president Tony Moralejo steps down

    Moralejo’s departure follows last week’s announcement that parent company Dine Brands would cut 9% of its workforce.

    By • Feb. 6, 2025
  • Just Salad location in NYC
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    Courtesy of Just Salad
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    Just Salad hires marketing, CX and development chiefs

    The appointments come shortly after the chain opened its first drive-thru restaurant as part of a growth push.

    By • Feb. 4, 2025