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Operations executive brings 40+ years of experience across McDonald’s, Arby’s, Inspire Brands, Taco John’s, and other leading restaurant systems
Eau Claire, WI (RestaurantNews.com) Erbert & Gerbert’s has named veteran restaurant operator Randy Ashbrook as Chief Operating Officer, adding more than four decades of experience in restaurant operations, franchise support, training, and field leadership to the growing sandwich brand.
Ashbrook has held leadership roles across some of the industry’s most recognized systems, including McDonald’s, Cinnabon, Chevy’s Fresh Mex, Arby’s, Inspire Brands and Taco John’s International. His background spans restaurant operations, district leadership, franchise consulting, field operations, and senior executive roles, giving him a broad, hands-on understanding of how to drive performance at the unit level.
In his new role, Ashbrook will focus on improving operational efficiency, strengthening unit-level economics, supporting franchisees, and building systems that drive consistency across the Erbert & Gerbert’s network.
A key strength of Ashbrook’s career is his dual perspective on franchising. During 15 years with McDonald’s, he worked across multiple operational roles and gained experience on both the franchisor and franchisee sides of the business. That experience shaped a leadership approach centered on balancing brand standards with the realities of day-to-day restaurant operations.
He later spent four years in operations leadership roles with Cinnabon and Chevy’s Fresh Mex, where he focused on streamlining operations, improving service execution, and enhancing customer experience to drive stronger restaurant performance.
Ashbrook then spent 17 years with Arby’s and Inspire Brands, advancing through roles including District Manager, Field Operations leader and Senior Director of Operations. In that time, he led high-volume markets and prioritized people’s development, operational discipline, and performance against key business metrics.
Most recently, he served as Senior Director of Operations Services and Training for Taco John’s International, where he developed training systems and operational frameworks designed to improve franchisee support and drive consistency across the system. His work focused on equipping operators with tools to run more efficient and profitable restaurants.
At Erbert & Gerbert’s, Ashbrook is expected to apply that experience to help strengthen systemwide performance as the brand continues to grow. His approach emphasizes that strong restaurant results are built on people, supported by clear processes, and reinforced through consistent execution.
“I’ve spent my career focused on helping restaurant operators and their teams perform at their best,” Ashbrook said. “I’m excited to join Erbert & Gerbert’s and work alongside our franchisees to strengthen operations, improve performance and deliver a great guest experience.”
He added that a key priority will be working closely with franchise owners and restaurant teams to identify opportunities to improve efficiency while preserving the brand’s guest experience and local personality.
Ashbrook joins the company at a time when restaurant operators are increasingly focused on labor efficiency, operational consistency, and protecting unit-level profitability. His experience across both large-scale systems and franchise operations positions him to help address those challenges directly.
Across his career, Ashbrook has consistently focused on a simple operating philosophy: develop strong people, build effective systems, and give franchisees the tools they need to succeed.
About Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop
Founded in Eau Claire, Wis., Erbert & Gerbert’s Sandwich Shop is a quick-service restaurant known for its distinctive sandwiches, soups, and original brand personality. The company serves guests through 60 restaurants in 10 states, including traditional restaurants and non-traditional locations. The system continues to focus on franchise growth, franchisee support and delivering a memorable guest experience. For more information or to find the nearest Erbert & Gerbert’s location, please visit ErbertAndGerberts.com.
Contact:
Rhonda Sanderson
Sanderson & Associates
Rhonda@sandersonpr.com
847-612-9829
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