Staffing

Cava names John Ludeke chief marketing officer

Source: CAVA

September 30, 2026

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Cava has named John Ludeke chief marketing officer. He will lead the fast-casual chain's marketing organization as it continues to expand.

Ludeke most recently served as chief brand officer at Dr. Squatch, where he oversaw global brand, creative, retail media, social, public relations, retail marketing and partnerships. During his tenure, Dr. Squatch grew to $500 million in revenue and was acquired by Unilever.

Previously, Ludeke spent more than a decade at Monster Energy, leading marketing activities across Asia-Pacific, including Japan, Korea, China, India and Vietnam. He also held senior marketing roles involving brands including Adidas, Ford, Activision, Tencent, Sony and DJI.

"John is a proven builder of culturally relevant consumer brands and a thoughtful, passionate leader who knows how to turn brand belief into business momentum," CAVA co-founder and CEO Brett Schulman said in a press release.

Cava is based in Washington, D.C., and has more than 500 restaurants in 30 states and Washington, D.C.