Los Angeles — Blaze Pizza, the nation’s leading fast-casual franchise pizza brand, has appointed Beto Guajardo as its new president and chief executive officer. Guajardo formerly served as president of Focus Brands International. Guajardo joins Blaze Pizza after overseeing the international business at Focus Brands, which included more than $400 million of chain sales in over 50 markets with 1,900 restaurants, 100 franchisees and eight brands (Cinnabon, Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s). Before being promoted to this role, Guajardo was responsible for …
Brentwood Associates
Auburn, Ala. — Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only Southern-inspired, fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, has named Marianna Magee as director of marketing and Jon Musser as director of supply chain. These additions to the brand’s rapidly growing corporate team come on the heels of the promotions of longstanding leaders Jim Thompson, Terry McKee, Tom Carr, Mary Lou Atkins and Carrie Evans in August. Chicken Salad Chick, which now has more than 175 locations in 17 states, has opened 34 new locations year-to-date, with four more projected to open before …
Auburn, Ala. — Chicken Salad Chick, a Southern-inspired, fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, has promoted five existing brand leaders amid the company’s ongoing growth and success. The brand has promoted three executives to its C-suite, including Jim Thompson as chief operating officer, Terry McKee as chief development officer and Tom Carr as chief marketing officer. Additionally, the company has appointed Mary Lou Atkins as vice president of human resources and Carrie Evans as vice president of franchise development. Chicken Salad Chick has grown exponentially in recent years, more than quadrupling …