Pasadena, Calif. — Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar has appointed Jerrold (Jay) Wong as chief operations officer, reinforcing the brand’s commitment to bold innovation, operational excellence and long term growth. He will officially join Applebee’s on Sept. 15.
As COO, Wong will focus on driving consistency, accelerating growth and working closely with his team and franchisees to elevate restaurant performance and deliver a seamless guest experience across the system.
Wong brings extensive leadership experience from across the hospitality industry, having scaled global teams and led transformations at world-class brands including Four Seasons, Starwood/Marriott Hotels and Exclusive Resorts.
As one of the world’s largest casual dining brands, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar and its franchise operations together consist of more than 1,500 Applebee’s restaurants in the U.S., two U.S. territories and 15 countries outside the U.S. as of June 29, 2025. This number does not include 59 company-owned Applebee’s restaurants, one domestic Applebee’s ghost kitchen (small kitchens with no storefront presence, used to fill off-premise orders) and seven Applebee’s international ghost kitchens. Applebee’s is franchised by subsidiaries of Dine Brands Global Inc., which is one of the world’s largest full-service restaurant companies.
SOURCE: Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar