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Noodles & Co names Mark A. Mears as CMO

Noodles & Company has named Mark A. Mears as its EVP and chief marketing officer effective July 20.

June 25, 2015

Noodles & Company has named Mark A. Mears as its EVP and chief marketing officer effective July 20. Mears, who has over 20 years of marketing and brand positioning experience, will be responsible for the strategic marketing direction of the company and will report directly to CEO Kevin Reddy, according to a company press release.

"Mark possesses significant expertise in successfully defining and driving the marketing direction for accomplished restaurant brands in the fastcasual and casual dining sectors, and we believe his leadership will be an invaluable asset for Noodles as we continue on our growth path," said Reddy. "His insight, deep industry knowledge and proven ability to achieve results through disciplined execution will help us elevate our brand, drive awareness and position ourselves for future success. I am confident Mark will make significant contributions for many years to come."

Mears most recently held the position of CMO at Schlotzsky's, where he created and implemented new marketing and menu programs designed to drive comparable restaurant sales growth, Reddy said. Previously, he served as the president and chief concept officer for Mimi's Café, a French-inspired casual dining concept, where he developed and led all aspects of the "French Revolution" brand re-imaging effort. Prior to taking his position at Mimi's Café, Mears also served as CMO for The Cheesecake Factory and oversaw the brand-building efforts in support of the chain's sister brands, Grand Lux Cafe and Rock Sugar Pan Asian Kitchen.