Staffing

Uncommon Brands Taps former &Pizza execs, promotes executive to leadership team

Photo: Uncommon Brands

October 12, 2026

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Uncommon Brands, a Dallas-based group behind fast-casual concepts Fuego Tortilla Grill and The Rice Box, has appointed two former &pizza executives to its leadership team and promoted an internal finance director, according to a company press release.

The restaurant group named Douglas Kwong as vice president of marketing and Lucious Kimble III as corporate controller. It also promoted Jack Franken to vice president of finance and strategy.

Kwong brings more than two decades of marketing experience in the restaurant and consumer sectors, having held leadership roles at Pei Wei, Cicis Pizza, Urban Air Adventure Parks and &pizza. As head of marketing at &pizza, Kwong launched the brand's subscription program, &pass. In his new role, he will oversee brand positioning, guest acquisition and loyalty strategies across the Uncommon Brands portfolio.

Kimble brings over a decade of hospitality finance experience to his role as corporate controller, where he will oversee companywide accounting and financial reporting. He previously served as corporate controller at &pizza alongside Kwong.

Franken, who previously led corporate finance and investor relations at Wingstop, joined Uncommon Brands to build its data infrastructure and manage financial onboarding for Fuego Tortilla Grill and The Rice Box. In his expanded role, Franken will oversee financial planning, strategic analysis and portfolio investment opportunities.

"Douglas has helped grow some of the most respected brands in the restaurant industry, and Jack and Lucious bring the financial and operational experience we need," Garrett Mills, CEO of Uncommon Brands, said in the release. "We've been intentional about bringing together people who understand what it takes to build strong businesses."

Backed by Crux Capital, Uncommon Brands focuses on scaling emerging fast-casual and quick-service restaurant concepts while maintaining each brand's distinct operational identity.