Dallas — Pei Wei, the leading Pan-Asian, fast-casual restaurant brand, is continuing its executive team expansion with the addition of Jim Lebs as chief financial officer. He joins Pei Wei from CiCi’s Pizza.
restaurants
Atlanta — Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG) has signed development agreements to build 25 new restaurants in the Chicago metropolitan area over the next 5 years. Chicago is a priority growth market for Arby’s where the brand has 64 restaurants and the potential to triple its current footprint.
Wichita, Kan. — Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has named Randy Simon as its next CEO & president. He will lead the company he co-founded more than 15 years ago with his brother Bill, father Freddy and business partner Scott Redler. He rejoins the company from Panera.
Dallas — Nestlé® Toll House® Café by Chip® has hired Rudy Frederico as vice president of franchise development. Frederico, a 27-year franchising veteran, will be responsible for leading the growth and market expansion for the brand’s franchise partners across the globe. He joins the company from Red Mango.
Milford, Conn. — Subway® Restaurants has promoted Carissa Ganelli to chief digital officer. Ganelli is responsible for the brand’s global digital strategy and will lead Subway Digital, a team dedicated to transforming the guest experience through the integration of digital tools and an omnichannel strategy.
Shanghai — Yum China Holdings, Inc.’s chief executive officer, Micky Pant, will transition to vice chairman and senior advisor. Joey Wat, who currently serves as president and chief operating officer, will succeed Pant as CEO of Yum China. The succession plan will take effect on March 1, 2018.
Atlanta — Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading fast-casual cafe concept, has appointed five industry veterans to the company’s corporate leadership team: Rob Collins as chief marketing officer, Pete Ward as general counsel, Paul Marsden as chief financial officer, Jaime Denney as senior vice president of operations and Cheryl Fletcher as vice president of franchise development strategy.
Syracuse, N.Y. — CoreLife Eatery, an active lifestyle restaurant with a healthy concept that has crazed the nation, is continuing its aggressive expansion with the addition of 40 new stores by the end of 2018, including 20 units in the brand’s home state of New York.