Atlanta — Church’s Texas Chicken™ and Texas Chicken™, one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant chains in the world, has named industry veteran Joe Guith as the brand’s new CEO, effective August 1, 2022. As Church’s Texas Chicken looks to accelerate a new phase of growth, Guith brings extensive experience in the consumer and restaurant businesses as well as deep expertise working in a highly franchised organization.
“I’m impressed with this brand’s resiliency and its ability to navigate a challenging environment over the past few years. With a strong base of domestic and international franchisees and a number of strategic growth initiatives on the horizon, this is an exciting and defining time in this great brand’s history,” says Guith. “I look forward to expanding the brand’s footprint so that Church’s Texas Chicken continues to thrive and reach new customers across the globe, particularly in new major markets abroad.”
Guith joins Church’s Texas Chicken™ from Focus Brands, where he was restaurant category president overseeing a portfolio of over 1,500 restaurants across the Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s brands. Previously, he held brand president positions at McAlister’s Deli and Cinnabon. Earlier in his career, Guith served as general manager of the KFC South Territory, a region that included more than 1,500 restaurants, 200+ franchisees and system revenues of $1.5 billion.
In addition to continued growth, Guith’s priorities at Church’s Texas Chicken will be to lead insights-driven investments in technology to mirror evolving consumer behaviors, such as an enhanced digital customer experience, including a new mobile app and loyalty program.
“As a strategic leader with extensive category expertise, Joe’s proven track record supports our efforts to build upon the brand’s strong foundation to drive future success,” says Anand Gowda, founder of High Bluff Capital Partners, which owns Church’s Texas Chicken along with various alternative investment funds managed by FS Investments. “His expertise in operating restaurants, combined with his passion for growing brands, accelerating digital capabilities and developing high-performing teams, will be incredibly valuable to the Church’s Texas Chicken system.”
Guith replaces Joe Christina, who served as CEO and president of Church’s Texas Chicken for 6 years, leading the company through unprecedented times for the restaurant industry and driving the brand’s continued expansion, adding hundreds of restaurants around the world.
Founded in San Antonio, Texas, in 1952 by George W. Church, Church’s Texas Chicken, along with its sister brand Texas Chicken primarily outside of the U.S., is one of the largest quick-service chicken restaurant chains in the world. Texas Chicken and Church’s Texas Chicken have more than 1,500 locations in 26 countries. For more information, visit churchstexaschicken.com and texaschicken.com.
SOURCE: Church’s Texas Chicken and Texas Chicken