Executive News

  • 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
  • A picture of an A&W located at a gas station.
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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
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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
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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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    Tornado98 via 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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    Retrieved from EG America.
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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
  • An image of a brick building with Applebee's signage
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    Scott Olson via Getty Images
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    Dine Brands cuts 9% of corporate workforce

    The layoffs impacted different brand teams, offices and departments, and follow comparable sales declines for the Applebee's and IHOP owner in Q3.

    By • Feb. 3, 2025
  • Shake Shack's "Worth It" campaign imagery.
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    Courtesy of Shake Shack
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    Shake Shack appoints 2 marketing execs

    The fast casual chain created the roles of chief growth officer and chief communications officer as it prepares for the departure of CMO Jay Livingston.

    By • Jan. 30, 2025
  • An image of a tasting room and pick up area at Cooper's Hawk
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    Retrieved from Cooper's Hawk Winery & Restaurant on January 28, 2025
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    Cooper’s Hawk appoints 3 C-suite execs, preps for fast growth

    The chain hired a new CFO, chief customer officer and chief technology officer to help it expand and improve brand positioning and guest experience.

    By • Jan. 29, 2025
  • An image of a Starbucks sign
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    Courtesy of Starbucks
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    Starbucks hires Taco Bell vets to replace departing execs

    Mike Grams and Meredith Sandland will divide responsibilities in newly created roles as part of a refreshed corporate structure.

    By • Jan. 28, 2025
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    Permission granted by Taco Bell
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    Taco Bell names North America president

    Meghan Farren, who has spent 10 years at KFC U.K. and Ireland, will take over the position from Scott Mezvinsky, who was promoted to KFC U.S. CEO.

    By • Jan. 27, 2025
  • The exterior of a Panera Bread restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan / Staff via Getty Images
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    Panera hires development chief from GoTo Foods

    Brian Krause’s appointment marks the cafe chain’s latest executive shakeup, following board changes, a CEO departure and new culinary leadership.

    By • Jan. 22, 2025