people

Austin, Texas — Sprinkles Bakeries and Picnik Restaurants has promoted Justin Murakami to chief operating officer, recognizing his exemplary contributions and leadership in steering operational growth and innovation. His promotion signals a pivotal phase in executing Sprinkles’ growth strategies domestically and internationally. “Justin’s strategic foresight and operational expertise have been instrumental in our company’s success, especially in expanding Sprinkles’ global footprint and Picnik’s domestic expansion,” says Dan Mesches, president and CEO of Sprinkles Bakeries and Picnik Restaurants. “We’re confident that under Justin’s leadership, we’ll continue to exceed expectations, scale efficiently …

Miami — Subway has appointed Jeff Shepherd as chief financial officer (CFO). He will report directly to CEO John Chidsey and oversee Subway’s global finance organization. Formerly with Advance Auto Parts, Shepherd succeeds Ben Wells who will retire at the end of the year after a 46-year career. “Jeff has a well-earned reputation for driving strong financial results for global brands, bringing nearly 30 years of financial and accounting experience to our organization,” says Chidsey. “As we welcome Jeff to Subway, we also thank Ben for his significant contributions. Since …

Broomfield, Colo. — Noodles & Company has appointed one of its board members, Drew Madsen, to serve as interim CEO. Concurrently, the board has initiated a search for a new permanent CEO. Madsen’s appointment follows the decision by the board to transition to new leadership, resulting in Dave Boennighausen’s departure as the company’s CEO. Madsen brings a wealth of experience in the restaurant industry to the role of interim CEO. In his recent operating roles, he was president and chief operating officer at some of the most successful and well-respected …

Houston — Shipley Do-Nuts has appointed Brad Reynolds, a seasoned multi-unit restaurant executive who previously served as the CFO at Blaze Pizza and Smashburger, as its new chief financial officer. Chris Smith is also joining the leadership team as Shipley’s vice president of operations; he has held leadership roles at multiple franchise restaurant brands, including Eskimo Hut, Rave Restaurant Group and Smashburger. “We have big goals for Shipley, and Brad’s and Chris’ experiences with successful franchise systems will be a strategic advantage for us as we focus on building even …

New York City — Pink Taco has appointed David E. Miller as chief operating officer. Miller brings almost two decades of leadership experience with other renowned brands, including Hard Rock, Carmine’s, City Winery, Joe’s Crab Shack and Virgil’s Real BBQ. In his new role, Miller will oversee operational strategy, financial management, quality control and human resources for Pink Taco. In the near term, he will spearhead the ongoing growth of Pink Taco’s flagship location in Times Square, New York City, as well as four other nationwide locations. He also will …