Staffing

Focus Brands brings on restaurant category president, Schlotzsky's chief brand officer

Shelly Harris has been hired as restaurant category president at Focus Brands. Provided.

August 26, 2022

Focus Brands, parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky's, has promoted Shelley Harris to restaurant category president and has hired William Armstrong as Schlotzsky's chief brand officer, according to a press release.

William Armstrong Photo provided.

"Having the opportunity to promote a strong leader like Shelley Harris to lead the restaurant category shows the bench strength we have within Focus Brands, and William Armstrong's track record of operational excellence is invaluable as Schlotzsky's continues to grow and enter new markets," Jim Holthouser, CEO of Focus Brands, said in the release. "The success of our restaurant brands is imperative to the success of the company overall, and with these two leaders working alongside existing talent, I am incredibly confident in the future."

Harris has worked in operations at Focus Brands for six years, most recently as the senior vice president of operations for the restaurant category. Prior to joining the company, she spent nearly 13 years working in operations at Burger King.

Armstrong joins Focus Brands from The Wendy's Company where he served as head of international operations.

Focus Brands, through its affiliate brands, is the franchisor and operator of more than 6,000 restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops and bakeries in the U.S., the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and more than 50 countries.