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Papa Johns Names New CFO and President, North America

by Katie Lee

Louisville, Ky. — Papa John’s International, Inc. has promoted Ravi Thanawala to chief financial officer and president, North America. Most recently, he served as chief financial officer and executive vice president, international. In his new role, he will lead the company’s North American business, including restaurant operations and development strategies along with his CFO responsibilities. In connection with his appointment, the company’s international business will be led by Chris Lyn-Sue, who has been promoted from senior vice president, head of international markets to senior vice president, general manager of international. …

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Dollar General Corporation Appoints COO; Promotes 3 Additional Executives

by Katie Lee

Goodlettsville, Tenn. — Dollar General Corporation has promoted Emily Taylor to be the company’s new chief operating officer (COO), effective Nov. 16, 2025. She most recently served as Dollar General’s executive vice president and chief merchandising officer. Taylor brings more than 25 years of Dollar General experience to the COO role, having first joined the company in 1998. As COO, she will have responsibility for store operations, global supply chain, merchandising, marketing and digital, real estate and store development, decision science, and process improvement organizations. “Emily’s strategic vision and tenured …

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Bagels & Co. Taps Restaurant Industry Veteran as New COO

by Katie Lee

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — Kevin Armantrout, who has held executive roles with several nationally recognized brands, has been named chief operating officer for Bagels & Co. which has several locations now open in Pennsylvania and Florida with plans to expand to additional cities across the U.S. Armantrout has built a distinguished career leading high-growth restaurant and hospitality brands through expansion, operational transformation and cultural renewal. His extensive experience in management, site selection, construction and building a strong foundation for franchising from the ground up are an asset to Bagels & …

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Walmart Names New President and Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Bentonville, Ark. — The board of directors of Walmart Inc. has elected John Furner to succeed Doug McMillon as president and chief executive officer, effective Feb. 1, 2026. Furner was also elected to the company’s board of directors, effective immediately. McMillon will retire on Jan. 31, 2026, but remain on the board of directors until the next annual shareholders’ meeting and help ensure a smooth transition. “John Furner is the right leader to guide Walmart into our next chapter of growth and transformation,” says Greg Penner, chairman of Walmart Inc. …

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Wienerschnitzel Opens First Walmart Store Restaurant in Arizona

by Katie Lee

Tempe, Ariz. — Wienerschnitzel, the world’s largest hot dog franchise, is celebrating its first restaurant opening inside a Walmart Supercenter, located in Tempe, Ariz., this month. This milestone marks the beginning of a broader non-traditional growth initiative, with six franchised restaurants planned for Walmart stores across the U.S. As Wienerschnitzel accelerates its expansion strategy, the opportunity with the retail giant represents a major step forward in bringing the legacy brand’s signature menu to high-traffic, convenience-driven environments. Additional restaurants are slated for Puyallup, Wash.; Alamogordo, N.M.; Reno, Nev.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; …

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Wayfair Testing Smaller Store Format with First Ohio Location

by Katie Lee

Boston — Wayfair Inc. will open its newest namesake retail location in Columbus, Ohio, in late 2026. At approximately 70,000 square feet, or about half the size of previously announced Wayfair stores, the Columbus location will serve as the company’s first prototype for a smaller-format model. This will also be Wayfair’s first brick-and-mortar location in the state of Ohio. “As we scale our retail strategy, we are focused on both expansion and experimentation,” says Liza Lefkowski, vice president of merchandising and stores at Wayfair. “Not only are we thrilled to …

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Smalls Sliders® Expands Executive Leadership Team

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Smalls Sliders has made a series of leadership appointments. The company has named Ryan Crumley as its new chief development officer and promoted Michael Alberici to chief marketing officer. These two additions round out CEO Charles Watson’s executive team. Additionally, the company has promoted Adam Roof to vice president of finance. He will oversee financial planning, forecasting and scalable systems designed to support the company’s rapidly growing franchise network. Crumley most recently served as chief growth officer at Tidal Wave Auto Spa, where he helped grow the company …

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Shoe Carnival to Change Name to Shoe Station Group

by Katie Lee

Fort Mill, S.C. — Shoe Carnival, Inc., a leading retailer of footwear and accessories for the family, has noted that its board of directors has unanimously voted to change the corporate name to Shoe Station Group, Inc., subject to approval of the name change by shareholders at the company’s annual shareholder meeting in June 2026. The company expects over 90% of its fleet to operate as Shoe Station by the end of fiscal 2028, with the remaining locations being evaluated for re-bannering, outlet repositioning or closure. The company has completed …

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Planon Appoints Chief Revenue Officer for Facilities and Field Services

by Katie Lee

Nijmegen, the Netherlands — Planon, a leading global provider of smart sustainable building management software, has appointed Sylvain Lamy as chief revenue officer (CRO) for facilities and field services, joining the company’s executive management team. In this position, Lamy will lead Planon’s global commercial organization for the facilities and field services business lines, driving sales, services and partner growth worldwide. “Sylvain brings a strong track record in scaling enterprise software businesses and leading high-performing international teams,” says Peter Ankerstjerne, CEO of Planon. “His commercial acumen and customer-centric mindset will be …

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P.F. Chang’s Names New Chief Executive Officer

by Katie Lee

Scottsdale, Ariz. — P.F. Chang’s has hired Jim Mazany as its new chief executive officer, effective immediately. Mazany succeeds Brad Hill and will lead the company into its next phase of growth, innovation and global expansion. Mazany is a proven leader in scaling restaurant brands, driving operational excellence and delivering engaging guest experiences across some of the most recognized names in the restaurant industry. Most recently, he served as chairman and CEO of Rosa Mexicano, Yardbird and Shell Shack, where he spearheaded brand expansion and elevated operational performance as operating …

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