Executive News

  • A smiling man in a blue suit.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Applebee's
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Subway
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    jetcityimage via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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".
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of https://stories.whataburger.com/press-kit
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Noodles & Company
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A man in a white shirt and suit jacket.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Smashburger
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Scott Olson via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dine Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fat Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A portrait photo of a smiling woman wearing black.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Yum Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A photograph of the outside of a Bonchon restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Bonchon
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Subway
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • A smiling person in a blue suit jacket.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Shake Shack
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    JHVEPhoto via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
  • Love's
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Naf Naf.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Naf Naf Grill CEO to retire

    Grady Metoyer, the brand’s CFO, will step into the interim CEO role following Greg William's retirement.

    By • July 14, 2025
  • An iamge of a building with black facade and white logo that says "Wagamama."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Catherine Ivill via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Wagamama hires Bloomin’ vet to oversee US development

    Suk Singh will serve as chief development officer for the U.K.-based chain’s U.S. division, with plans to grow Wagamama beyond its seven-unit toehold.

    By • July 9, 2025
  • The outside of a Starbucks store
    Image attribution tooltip
    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Starbucks incentivizes cost-cutting goal with exec bonuses

    The coffee giant will give top executives up to $6 million in stock grants if the brand meets cost-reduction goals by the end of fiscal 2027.

    By • Updated July 8, 2025
  • An image ofa brick colored building with a logl of a red-headed girl with pigtails.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Wendy's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Wendy’s CEO departs for Hershey

    Kirk Tanner, who has led the company for about a year and a half, will resign from the chain to become president and CEO at the candy giant.

    By • Updated July 8, 2025
  • An image of various doughnuts from Krispy Kreme behind a bakery counter.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Krispy Kreme appoints CFO, chief brand officer

    The new executives replace outgoing leaders who announced their departures shortly after Krispy Kreme ended its McDonald’s partnership.

    By • July 7, 2025
  • An Outback Steakhouse restaurant on Jan. 31, 2025 in Daly City, California.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bloomin’ Brands drafts industry vet for CIO role

    Rafael Sanchez will lead tech operations for Outback Steakhouse’s parent company, effective June 30.

    By Lindsey Wilkinson • June 25, 2025
  • A headshot of a person in front of a blue background. The person is wearing a navy suit.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Panera Bread
    Image attribution tooltip

    Panera Bread hires transformation expert in newly created role

    Nikka Copeland will oversee the execution of the chain’s three-year growth plan as senior vice president of the Office of Transformation & Strategy.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • Jack in the Box
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Jack in the Box brings back COO position

    Shannon McKinney returns to the chain to oversee operations less than a year after it eliminated the position as part of a corporate restructuring.

    By • June 25, 2025
  • An image of a person in a blue suit smiling.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Darden
    Image attribution tooltip

    Olive Garden president to retire, sparking C-suite shuffle

    Dan Kiernan will retire after over 30 years at Darden, including seven as Olive Garden president. John Wilkerson, current Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen president, will step into the role.

    By • Updated June 21, 2025
  • A photograph of a red and yellow sign with a giant yellow "M" above a red box that says "McDonald's Billions Served."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Mario Tama via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    McDonald’s appoints US CIO

    Valerie Ashbaugh is set to switch positions with long-time tech chief Whitney McGinnis, who will now be senior vice president, commercial products and platforms.

    By • June 18, 2025