Leadership News & Media
Blaze, Cousins, Torchy's, &Pizza, Slim Chickens CEOs: 'Chaos is the new normal'
by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group
In this recent Fast Casual Executive Summit roundtable, &pizza Co-founder and CEO Michael Lastoria, Blaze Pizza CEO Mandy Shaw, Cousins Subs CEO Christine…
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[Fast Casual Executive Summit 2020] Women in the Lead: Keeping the Momentum Going
This panel brings together several female leaders of the fast casual industry who will discuss how they overcame the challenges they faced on their way to the…
Presented by Fast Casual Executive Summit
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Focus Brands names former Hilton exec to lead Europe, Middle East, Africa
October 27, 2020
Focus Brands, the parent company of Schlotzsky's, Auntie Anne's and Cinnabon, has named former Hilton Hotels executive, Sean Wooden, as its International's…
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HMS Host COO to restaurateurs: Stop trying to do it all
by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group
HMS Host COO Joe Thornton relayed a case study around his experience transforming Jamba as a prime example of how restaurant leaders can be more effective by…
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Blaze adds CMO, chief restaurant officer
October 12, 2020
Blaze Pizza has named Vince Szwajkowski, a former movie theater and hotel executive as its CMO, and Rick Gestring, a former operating systems and restaurant…
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Focus Brands adds 4 execs to leadership team
September 3, 2020
Focus Brands has made four key leadership appointments across its system and at two of its fast casual brands — Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotzky's. "As we…
read nowFocus Brands names Krause as CDO, taps Muir to lead sales
July 15, 2020
Focus Brands, the parent company of Carvel and Cinnabon, named veteran franchise development executive Brian Krause as chief development officer, succeeding…
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Blaze Pizza names supply chain, development leaders
May 29, 2020
Pasadena, California-based Blaze Pizza is making some changes in its executive ranks, announcing this week that Marie Zhang is joining the company as its chief…
read nowSweetgreen taps ex Starbucks leader as COO
May 13, 2020
Sweetgreen has hired Chris Carr, a former Starbucks executive vice president and chief procurement officer, as its chief operations officer.
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Mexican Restaurants taps Pete Pascuzzi as CEO
April 23, 2020
Pete Pascuzzi, a 35-year restaurant industry veteran, is now CEO of Mexican Restaurants Inc., which operates five concepts, including the fast casual…
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COVID-19 liability protection for restaurateurs + Edible Brands' new QSR
by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group
Is your brand making the moves now to prevent COVID-19-related liability claims later? Today's podcast features two Messner Reeves LLP attorneys' expert…
listen nowMod Pizza taps Starbucks finance leader as CFO
April 13, 2020
Mod Super-Fast Pizza Holdings LLC has named Josh Guenser as CFO.
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Ells steps down as Chipotle revamps board
March 6, 2020
Brian Niccol, Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc.'s CEO, is now also chairman of the board of directors for the fast casual brand.
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Brendan Mauri tapped as Rusty Taco president
February 20, 2020
Inspire Brands has named Brendan Mauri president of Rusty Taco.
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WorkJam buys staffing platform Forge
February 19, 2020
Digital workplace solutions provider WorkJam is acquiring Forge, an on-demand staffing platform, according to a press release. The move will help WorkJam…
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With blistering Q2 for Pie Five, Rave CEO promises leadership changes
February 12, 2020
Promising to beef up leadership in "underperforming areas" of its business, the recently named CEO of double-pizza brand company, Rave Restaurant Group…
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Boston Market COO steps into CEO role
February 3, 2020
Boston Market has named its former COO Eric Wyatt as CEO, succeeding current CEO Frances Allen, who the brand said in a news release is departing for "a new…
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Your Pie hits a growth spurt
January 28, 2020
Your Pie said it not only opened six stores in the fourth quarter of last year, but as previously reported here, named a CEO and CMO for the Athens…
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Mod names president, promotes 6 others
January 28, 2020
MOD Super Fast Pizza Holdings LLC has promoted COO John Maguire to the additional role of president, while Steve O'Neil, leader of operations services and…
read nowWingstop names Mahesh Sadarangani as COO
January 8, 2020
Mahesh Sadarangani is now chief operating officer for Wingstop Inc. He previously served as senior vice president of channel strategy, according to a press…
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