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Bed Bath & Beyond Appoints Interim CEO and New Chief Merchandising Officer

by Katie Lee

Union, N.J. — Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. has made significant changes to its senior leadership to focus on reversing recent results, addressing supply chain and inventory, and strengthening its balance sheet. Sue Gove, an independent director on the company’s board of directors and chair of the board’s Strategy Committee, has been named interim chief executive officer, replacing Mark Tritton, who has left his role as president and chief executive officer and as a member of the board. “After thorough consideration, the board determined that it was time for a …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. CEO to Retire at Year-End

by Katie Lee

Greenwood Village, Colo. — Paul Murphy, president and chief executive officer of Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., has informed the company’s board of directors that he intends to retire at the end of 2022 when his employment agreement expires. Murphy will be assisting the board as they search to identify a successor and will remain as a special advisor until March 31, 2023 to work with the board and his successor to ensure a smooth transition of leadership. Murphy is an experienced veteran of the restaurant industry having begun his …

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German Doner Kebab Continues U.S. Expansion with Key Executive Hires

by Katie Lee

New York City — As part of an aggressive expansion plan for North America, German Doner Kebab USA (GDK USA) has hired Robert Bray (pictured) as operations director and Mark Treptow as director of franchise development, along with recent hires Georgina Cavendish, chief financial officer, and Darren Cooke as marketing director. GDK was founded in 1989. Reporting to Nigel Belton, GDK North America’s managing director, Bray has more than 20 years of operations experience with YUM! Brands and was most recently senior regional franchise director at Church’s Chicken. Treptow has …

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Batteries Plus Names Director of Exit Strategy Support for Franchisees

by Katie Lee

Hartland, Wis. — Batteries Plus has hired Hugh Robertson as director of exit strategy support. In his new role, Robertson will educate, advise and assist Batteries Plus franchisees with their exit strategies — offering full support for owners from the time of purchase to the date of successful sale. Having spent more than 25 years in the franchising industry, Robertson joins the team with a breadth of experience including expertise in small to medium size business transfer, franchise consulting and franchise operations. In the short term, Robertson will be focused …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Fresh Brothers Names Former CKE COO as its New CEO

by Katie Lee

Los Angeles — Los Angeles-based Fresh Brothers has named former CKE Restaurants, Inc. executive Ron Coolbaugh as its new CEO. With extensive experience in global growth, Coolbaugh will oversee Fresh Brothers as it continues to expand with plans to move into new markets beyond Southern California. Coolbaugh started with CKE, the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, as a high school student in the mid-1980s. For the next three decades he continued to rise through key roles in management and led much of the company’s international footprint, culminating in …

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franchise developmentNewspeopleretailers

Edible Welcomes New Vice President of Franchise Sales

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Edible® reinforces its executive leadership team, as it continues its global growth by focusing on franchise sales and territory expansion with the addition of Ramzi Daklouche as vice president of franchise sales. Previously serving as chief growth officer at Pieology Pizzeria, Ramzi has a wide-ranging background in growing brands and territories both domestic and globally. With nearly a decade of experience, Ramzi brings a strong understanding and unique perspective that will amplify franchise expansion for the Edible® brand. “I’m honored to be joining Edible® during such a promising …

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Zaxby’s Names New Chief Marketing & Strategy Officer

by Katie Lee

Athens, Ga. — Zaxby’s, a premium quick-service restaurant brand founded in Athens, Ga., has named Patrick Schwing as chief marketing & strategy officer. He joins Zaxby’s from Inspire Brands, where he has served as Arby’s chief marketing officer and president of the Franchise Association for more than 2 years. In his new role, Schwing will oversee marketing communications, loyalty, e-commerce, R&D and media including digital and social to help the organization architect its future growth plans. “As Zaxby’s focuses on brand and culinary differentiation, we are excited to add Patrick …

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franchise developmentNewspeoplerestaurants

Famous Toastery Hires New VP of Franchise Development

by Katie Lee

Charlotte, N.C. — Eric Gustafsson has been named the new vice president of franchise development for Famous Toastery. He will play an instrumental role in supporting incoming franchise owners as the brand moves closer to achieving its goal of reaching 50 units — doubling its current footprint — by 2024. Gustafsson brings many years of experience in the restaurant and franchising industries. Most recently, Gustafsson worked as director of business development for REEF, a global ghost kitchen technology company with 400 operations throughout the world. Prior to that, Gustafsson worked …

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ENTOUCH Selects VP of Channel Development and Director of Product Management

by Katie Lee

Richardson, Texas — ENTOUCH, a leader in multisite energy management solutions, has hired Jordan Statt and Simone Samms as vice president of channel development and director of product management, respectively. In his role, Statt will build upon the growth of ENTOUCH’s channel partners and expand on the company’s vision to develop a robust channel and partner ecosystem. Samms will shape the product management team, focusing on delivering solutions directly impacting customer goals and strategic growth. Statt brings a decade of business and channel development leadership expertise to the role. Before …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Starbucks Board of Directors Affirms CEO Transition Details

by Katie Lee

Seattle — Starbucks Corporation’s board of directors has provided an update to affirm the search details for the company’s next chief executive officer. The board has agreed with founder Howard Schultz that he will remain as interim CEO through the first fiscal quarter of 2023. This timeline provides the company the ideal runway for a seamless transition and continuity of leadership through the 2022 holiday season, as the business transformation continues. Since returning as interim CEO on April 4, Schultz has engaged deeply with employees of all levels of the …

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