McAlister’s Deli has named Jeff Sturgis to the newly created role of Chief Development Officer, where he will lead development functions including franchise sales, real estate, store design and construction. Sturgis comes to McAlister’s with more than 17 years of experience in the franchise industry. Most recently, he founded and operated a franchise strategy and consulting practice where he worked with more than 25 franchisors to develop and execute strategies for franchise growth.
Rob Lynch will join Arby’s Restaurant Group as Brand President and Chief Marketing Officer. Lynch comes to Arby’s with a long track record of building brands and delivering business results at companies like Procter & Gamble, The HJ Heinz Company and most recently at Yum! Brands, where he served as the Vice President of brand marketing at Taco Bell. Lynch’s start date will be September 30, 2013.
Drew Madsen, Darden Restaurants‘ President and Chief Operating Officer, has decided to retire from Darden at the end of the company’s fiscal second quarter. He will be succeeded, effective immediately, by Gene Lee, who currently serves as the President of Darden’s Specialty Restaurant Group. Until his retirement, Madsen will work with Lee and the rest of the Darden leadership team to ensure a seamless transition.
Margaret Nollen has joined The Wendy’s Company in the new position of Senior Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategy, effective immediately. Nollen joins Wendy’s with more than 25 years of experience in finance and administration, including nearly 20 years in investor relations, across multiple industries. She most recently served as Senior Vice President, Strategy and Investor Relations, for the H.J. Heinz Company. In her role at Heinz, she was responsible for aligning global strategies and investor communications for the $12 billion global sales company.
Starbucks chief financial officer and chief administrative officer, Troy Alstead, has been promoted to chief financial officer and group president, Global Business Services. Alstead’s promotion is a recognition of the increasing responsibility and complexity of his role overseeing Starbucks global financial, technology and supply chain operations and ensuring that the company’s overall business infrastructure is optimized to support the company’s global growth.
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers has named John Schaufelberger as vice president of Brand Marketing. Schaufelberger will be responsible for overseeing Red Robin’s advertising, media, national promotions, communications and in-store merchandising. Schaufelberger brings to Red Robin more than 20 years of national and international experience in development and execution of brand marketing strategy, programming and media planning, R&D innovation and new concept development.
Ray Biondi has joined Tin Drum Asiacafé as Chief Operating Officer. With more than 30 years’ experience in the restaurant industry, Biondi was previously Senior Vice President of Franchise Management for Arby’s and 2,500 of its restaurants. He also was a partner and SVP at RTM, Arby’s largest franchisee, for nearly 10 years.
Tin Drum Asiacafé also appointed restaurant and franchise industry veteran Joe Ippolito as Vice President of Operations. As Vice President of Operations at Arby’s, he was credited with leading their most profitable region in the Midwest, as well as overseeing numerous restaurant and product initiatives. He has also worked with such brands as Firehouse Subs, Tim Horton’s and Boston Market.
Bojangles’ Restaurants announced that Randy Kibler plans to retire from his role as president and chief executive officer once a successor is identified, but will remain an active member of the company’s board of directors thereafter. No other executive changes are anticipated. Kibler, 59, will remain in his current role until a successor is selected by a search committee formed by the Bojangles’ board of directors.
John Dikos has joined MOD Pizza as vice president, strategic partnerships. Dikos comes to MOD Pizza from Qdoba Mexican Grill where he most recently served as director of franchise development. He will focus on accelerating the company’s growth into key markets across the United States with franchise partners. During his nearly seven years with Qdoba, the chain grew from 300 to over 600 restaurants through both company and franchise development.
Project Pie, has named former Qdoba executive Todd Owen as its Vice President of Franchise Development, a position designed to drive continued franchise growth for the pioneer fast-casual pizza concept. Owen brings 18 years of experience in franchise development to Project Pie. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Franchise Development at Qdoba Restaurant Corporation. During his tenure at Qdoba, he was responsible for driving the franchise development strategy for the brand and successfully growing the franchise side of the business from a 60-unit organization to 630 system locations in just over 11 years.
Gary Brem, a 34-year food service construction veteran, has been named director of development for Newk’s Eatery, and Klara Smith, a 15-year legal industry professional, has been chosen as the company’s general counsel. Brem will be handling concept-to-completion development of Newk’s expanding locations, including evaluating and recommending real estate sites for franchisee’s and company restaurants. Smith’s experience with franchise development transactions will help her support operational growth and development of new stores in the Newk’s system.
Joe Christina has been appointed Executive Vice President of U.S. Operations for Church’s Chicken, effective immediately. Christina was most recently the Senior Vice President, North America Western Division of Burger King Restaurant Franchise operations and was responsible for overseeing more than 2,000 restaurants. He implemented standards and operational best practices that reduced expenses and improved quality that generated an 8% increase in comp sales in multiple markets.
Del Taco made several promotions and new appointments to its leadership team as the company continues its plans for aggressive growth beyond its Southern California roots. Mike Lucero has been promoted to the role of Vice President of Franchise Development and Real Estate. John Druse has been promoted to Vice President of Design and Construction. Eric Grundmeier has been named Vice President of Supply Chain and Quality Assurance. David Wetzel has been named Vice President of Franchise Operations.
Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants announced Brian Maupin as the company’s first Chief Information Officer. The former AT&T executive was selected for the newly created role to lead Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants to the front of the restaurant industry through technology innovations and advanced analytical techniques. Maupin brings 18 years of experience in data management with progressive advancements in customer service, billing, information technology, sales and marketing.
Whitney Royal has joined East Coast Wings & Grill as Unit Level Systems Analyst. Royal, who most recently served as Supervisor of Franchisee Training & Education, and POS System Analyst, will be responsible for the tracking of the brands proprietary systems, policies, processes and procedures on unit level economics.
Khaled Habash, President of the largest Church’s Chicken franchise company, Falcon Holdings, with 165 Church’s restaurants, was reelected to lead the Church’s Independent Franchise Association board as its President for a third term. Tony Lutfi, a long-term franchisee of Church’s was reelected to serve as the board’s Vice President. Janice Bowen, Treasurer and Noor Samji, Secretary, both multi-unit franchisees were also reelected to their posts on the CIFA board.
CiCi’s Pizza has named Michael Iglesias as its new director of franchise development. With more than 25 years of franchising, restaurant development and real estate experience, Iglesias becomes an integral part of a seasoned franchise development team that focuses on new and existing franchise growth, strategic market planning, construction and real estate support.
John Budd has joined SONIC Drive-In in the newly created role of chief development and strategy officer. In this role, Budd will oversee franchise sales, real estate and construction – both domestically and internationally. Additionally, in conjunction with the chief executive officer, Budd will lead and assist in further development of key strategic initiatives for the company. He will report directly to Clifford Hudson, chairman, chief executive officer and president of Sonic Corp. Budd joins SONIC from the Boston Consulting Group, where he served as a partner and managing director.
Tim Hortons U.S.A. recently named Larry Mench to the position of Vice President of U.S. Operations. Mench brings more than 30 years of restaurant industry experience in the quick-serve and fast-casual categories to the chain’s U.S. operations. Mench most recently worked with an organization that operates multi QSR units.