people

Fort Worth, Texas — HTeaO, the nation’s leading iced tea franchise, has appointed Chris Phillips as chief financial officer. In this role, Phillips will oversee the company’s finance, accounting, information technology and strategic planning functions as HTeaO continues its rapid expansion across the U.S. Phillips brings more than two decades of experience leading finance and strategy for highly franchised, multi-brand restaurant organizations. His background includes senior leadership roles with some of the most recognizable names in the industry, including Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Darden Restaurants. “Chris brings the rare combination …

San Francisco — Starbird has appointed Greg Levin as chief executive officer and board member, effective immediately. Levin will lead the company’s next phase of national expansion, bringing a guest-first leadership mindset, a proven record of scaling premium restaurant brands and deep experience building disciplined, high-performing restaurant concepts and operating systems. As part of the transition, Starbird founder Aaron Noveshen will move fully into the role of chairman of the board. In this capacity, he will continue stewarding the brand’s long term vision and values at the board level, ensuring …

Mount Pleasant, S.C. — Vicious Biscuit, a fast-growing Southern brunch brand known for its bold flavors and genuine hospitality, has named Mike Ball as vice president of franchise operations. Ball, who previously served as vice president of operations, will now lead a newly defined, franchise-dedicated role focused exclusively on franchise partner success as the brand prepares for accelerated national expansion. The appointment comes as Vicious Biscuit enters its next stage of growth, with an expanding pipeline of franchise openings and a growing roster of multi-unit operators entering the system. The …

Auburn, Ala. — Guthrie’s, the original chicken finger restaurant, has appointed Tom Carr as president & chief executive officer of Guthrie’s Franchising, Inc. Following the brand’s monumental 60th anniversary celebration this past year, Carr will lead Guthrie’s into a new era of growth and expansion. With over 25 years of leadership and marketing experience, Carr joins Guthrie’s from the fast-growing fast-casual restaurant chain, Chicken Salad Chick, where he has been a key leadership executive behind the brand’s phenomenal growth over the past 10 years. In his role as chief marketing …

Washington, D.C. — CAVA, a fast-casual Mediterranean brand, has appointed Doug Thompson as chief operations officer, effective March 2. In this role, Thompson will oversee CAVA’s restaurant operations and field teams as it continues its rapid expansion across the country. Thompson is a veteran in the industry; most recently he was CEO of Tumble 22 Texas Chicken Joint, a Texas-based chicken concept. Thompson also spent over two decades at Texas Roadhouse, where he served as COO and vice president of operations. While there, he oversaw widespread development of new restaurant …