El Dorado, Ark. — The Murphy USA Inc. board of directors has appointed its chief operating officer, Mindy K. West, to also serve as president. She will succeed Andrew Clyde as the company’s president and chief executive officer, effective Jan. 1, 2026. West will also become a member of the board of directors on that date. Clyde will retire from the board on Dec. 31, 2025. “On behalf of the board, I am delighted to welcome Mindy as Murphy USA’s next president and CEO and as a member of our …
Murray, Utah — Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc., owner of Bed Bath & Beyond, Overstock, buybuy BABY and a blockchain asset portfolio, has appointed Rick Lockton as executive vice president and chief digital, product and technology officer. In his new role, Lockton will lead all digital, AI, product and technology functions, advancing Bed Bath & Beyond’s position as a leader in retail innovation and home technology. Effective Nov. 3, 2025, Lockton will join the executive leadership team to lead the company’s digital transformation and product innovation strategy. He will oversee …
Atlanta — Ascent Hospitality Management, franchisor to Huddle House and Perkins American Food Co., has appointed Paul Damico as chief executive officer, effective immediately. As CEO, Damico will lead Ascent’s next chapter of growth and modernization, building on the company’s long history of bringing people together around great food and supporting franchisees’ success. He will also explore opportunities to expand Ascent’s portfolio through the acquisition of additional brands that align with the company’s growth strategy, vision and values. Damico brings over four decades of extensive food and beverage experience within …
St. Louis — Panera Bread, a leader and pioneer in the fast-casual restaurant industry, has appointed Earl Ellis as chief financial officer, effective immediately. Ellis will report to CEO Paul Carbone and join the executive leadership team. “Earl is a proven finance leader who blends disciplined financial stewardship with an owner’s mindset,” says Carbone. “He has scaled complex, multi-brand organizations, led successful transformations and developed high-performing teams. His experience will help accelerate our plan to strengthen the core business, elevate the guest experience and drive long term, profitable growth. Panera …
Fishers, Ind. — Wireless Zone® has appointed an executive vice president from within its franchise system: longtime franchisee Al Pellecchia. Under his leadership, the nation’s largest Verizon franchisor is poised to continue growing its system through improved processes, prioritizing automation and providing ongoing support for the stores. Pellecchia started in the industry selling phones while he was in college. An independent mobile retailer then hired Pellecchia to run multiple locations. He went on to work for brands such as AT&T, Nextel and Sprint, serving as his own agent. Pellecchia was …
San Antonio — Whataburger has appointed Rohit Kapoor as executive vice president, chief digital and technology transformation officer. He brings more than three decades of global leadership experience across the restaurant and retail industries, where he has consistently led large-scale digital transformations that elevate both customer and team member experiences while enabling sustainable growth. Before joining Whataburger, Kapoor served as executive vice president and chief information officer at Claire’s, where he modernized the company’s end-to-end technology landscape, strengthening its digital foundations and enhancing omnichannel engagement. He previously held senior leadership …
Bolingbrook, Ill. — Ulta Beauty, Inc. has named Christopher DelOrefice as its next chief financial officer. He will begin his new role on Dec. 5, 2025, and Chris Lialios will continue to serve as interim chief financial officer until that time. DelOrefice joins Ulta Beauty from Becton Dickinson & Company, where he has served as executive vice president and chief financial officer since September 2021. Prior to Becton Dickinson, DelOrefice spent more than 20 years with Johnson & Johnson. “We are thrilled to welcome Chris to the Ulta Beauty family. …
Redwood City, Calif. — Legion Technologies, an innovator in workforce management (WFM), is partnering with Dollar Tree, Inc. to deliver enhanced labor optimization and associate engagement to its fleet of stores and distribution centers across North America. “As a retailer with more than 9,000 stores, 18 distribution centers and over 150,000 associates, we needed a next-generation solution that would allow us to better manage our labor budget while increasing associate engagement. Legion’s platform showed us we didn’t have to compromise,” says Jocelyn Konrad, chief of Dollar Tree Stores and enterprise …
Whitewater, Wis. — Toppers Pizza has appointed Ian Bruggeman as chief financial officer, adding a seasoned professional to its executive team. He will oversee the company’s finance, supply chain and human resources functions while serving as a strategic partner to the CEO. Bruggeman brings a diverse background that spans consulting, asset management and operational leadership in the restaurant sector. He previously held roles in financial planning and analysis, franchise development and operations at Naf Naf Grill, equipping him with a unique blend of analytical expertise and hands-on operational experience. At …
Glenview, Ill. — ITW Food Equipment Group has appointed Ray Peden as its new vice president of U.S. FEG dealer sales organization. He will lead the ITW FEG dealer sales team in generating organic growth by providing dealer support and strengthening partner relationships, as well as maintaining a critical focus on key customers. Peden and the sales team will also be responsible for driving growth through their product application expertise across the ITW FEG premium brands, including Hobart, Traulsen, Baxter, Vulcan and Wolf. “We are excited to welcome Ray to …
