https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/Burgerfi-appoints-smashburger-president-Carl-Bachmann-CEO/651502/
BurgerFi hires Smashburger president as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Carl Bachmann will join the public company on July 10 in the midst of several initiatives to improve sales and operations.
ceo restaurantburgerfihiressmashburgerpresident
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/fat-brands-andrew-wiederhorn-returns-ceo/759098/
Andrew Wiederhorn returns as Fat Brands CEO | Restaurant Dive
The shift in leadership comes after the U.S. Department of Justice dropped fraud charges against Fat Brands and Wiederhorn in July.
fat brandsceo restaurantandrewreturnsdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/Chipotle-scott-boatwright-permanent-ceo/732566/
Chipotle names Scott Boatwright permanent CEO | Restaurant Dive
Boatwright, who has been interim CEO since August, said on an earnings call that the chain will continue its current strategies and focus on operational...
ceo restaurantchipotlenamesscottboatwright
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/shift-change-burgerfi-hires-ceo/587193/
Shift Change: BurgerFi hires CEO | Restaurant Dive
This week's Shift Change also highlights a new chief marketing officer at Qdoba and the retirement of Starbucks' chief partner officer.
shift changeceo restaurantburgerfihiresdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/True-Food-Kitchen-John-Williams-as-CEO/645804/
True Food Kitchen appoints Lazy Dog exec as CEO | Restaurant Dive
John Williams joins the 43-unit, wellness-focused chain as it looks to grow and open a new fast casual concept to reach new customers.
food kitchenlazy dogceo restauranttrueappoints
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/topgolf-hires-david-mckillips-ceo/812636/
Topgolf hires David McKillips as CEO | Restaurant Dive
McKillips, former president and CEO of Chuck E. Cheese’s parent, will focus on the chain’s growth strategy now that it has been spun off from Callaway.
ceo restauranttopgolfhiresdaviddive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/kfc-names-new-ceo/606990/
KFC names new CEO | Restaurant Dive
Sep 22, 2021 - Sabir Sami will become the chicken chain's CEO on Jan. 1. He will replace Tony Lowings, a 27-year veteran of Yum Brands and KFC, who will retire in early 2022.
names new ceokfcrestaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/papa-johns-hires-arbys-president-as-ceo/561747/
Papa John's hires Arby's president as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Rob Lynch, who helped turn around Arby's through extensive marketing campaigns, steps in as the pizza chain prepares its own rebranding initiatives.
papa johnceo restauranthiresarbypresident
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/black-rock-coffee-ceo-mark-davis/691065/
Black Rock Coffee appoints new CEO | Restaurant Dive
Mark Davis, who previously worked at Tokyo Joe’s and Panera, will oversee the chain as it plans to double its store count by 2026.
appoints new ceoblack rockcoffeerestaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/SPB-Hospitality-appoints-Josh-Kern-permanent-ceo/653531/
SPB Hospitality appoints Josh Kern as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Kern, who has served as interim CEO since August, oversaw the company’s merger with Krystal earlier this year.
spb hospitalityceo restaurantappointsjoshkern
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/starbucks-names-brian-niccol-ceo-laxman-narasiham-steps-down/724056/
Starbucks names Brian Niccol as its CEO | Restaurant Dive
Aug 13, 2024 - Brian Niccol, who has been CEO at Chipotle since 2018, joins the chain as it continues to face declines in traffic and comparable sales.
ceo restaurantstarbucksnamesbriandive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/el-pollo-loco--appoints-liz-williams-ceo/707356/
El Pollo Loco appoints former Taco Bell exec as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Feb 13, 2024 - Liz Williams, who served in various leadership positions at Taco Bell, including international president, will take over for interim CEO Maria Hollandsworth.
el pollo locoappoints formertaco bellceo restaurantexec
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/panera-brands-appoints-paul-carbone-permanent-ceo/743540/
Panera Brands hires permanent CEO | Restaurant Dive
Paul Carbone, who has been interim CEO since January, will focus on a multi-year plan to boost the company’s teams, guest experience and franchise...
ceo restaurantpanerabrandshirespermanent
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/red-lobster-jonathan-tibus-ceo-horace-dawson-retiring/711179/
Red Lobster appoints another CEO | Restaurant Dive
Jonathan Tibus, who helped chains like Kona Grill and Krystal during bankruptcy, joins the struggling seafood chain following Horace Dawson's retirement.
red lobsterceo restaurantappointsanotherdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/portillos-hires-brett-patterson-ceo-president/812057/
Portillo’s hires Outback Steakhouse vet as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Brett Patterson, who most recently served as CEO of Miller’s Ale House, joins the chain as it slows down its unit growth.
outback steakhouseceo restauranthiresvetdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/bonchon-us-ceo-bryan-shin/650970/
Bonchon US appoints CEO | Restaurant Dive
Bryan Shin, who previously served as the chain’s global CFO for over four years, will oversee initiatives related to menu innovation, store development and...
ceo restaurantusappointsdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/rock-n-roll-sushi-ceo-craig-lemieux-vp-operations-terri-jessen/701777/
Rock N Roll Sushi hires experienced franchise exec as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Craig LeMieux, who has decades of franchising experience, will lead the chain as its top executive. Terri Jessen was appointed VP of operations.
ceo restaurantrockrollsushihires
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/cke-restaurants-hires-joe-guith-ceo/741750/
Carl’s Jr parent appoints Joe Guith as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Mar 6, 2025 - Guith spent the past two years at Church’s Texas Chicken, where he repositioned the brand and improved unit-level profitability.
ceo restaurantjrparentappointsjoe
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/smashburger-appoints-denise-nelsen-former-starbucks-exec-ceo/710818/
Smashburger appoints Starbucks veteran as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Denise Nelsen, former SVP of U.S. operations at Starbucks, started her new role overseeing Smashburger’s growth and menu innovation in January.
ceo restaurantsmashburgerappointsstarbucksveteran
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/bjs-restaurants-hires-lyle-d-tick-ceo-president/750009/
BJ’s Restaurants appoints CEO | Restaurant Dive
Jun 6, 2025 - Lyle D. Tick, current president and chief concept officer, was promoted to the top executive post after being with the company since September.
ceo restaurantrestaurantsappointsdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/personal-attack-fat-brands-cries-foul-over-plan-to-oust-ceo/811862/
‘Personal attack’: Fat Brands cries foul over plan to oust CEO | Restaurant Dive
The Fatburger owner admitted to making a mistake in selling shares of Twin Hospitality without court approval, but argued the call for Andrew Wiederhorn’s...
fat brandsceo restaurantcriesfoulplan
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/Tijuana-Flats-Burger-King-vet-Joe-Christina-CEO/635396/
Tijuana Flats names Burger King vet as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Joe Christina, who most recently served as CEO at Church’s Texas Chicken, has joined the 124-unit Tex-Mex chain as it restarts growth.
burger kingceo restauranttijuanaflatsnames
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/twin-hospitality-group-appoints-andy-wiederhorn-ceo/808665/
Twin Hospitality Group appoints Andy Wiederhorn as CEO | Restaurant Dive
The company terminated Kim Boerema as CEO in late December after over six months in the position.
hospitality groupceo restauranttwinappointsandy
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/caribou-coffee-appoints-cfo-scott-kennedy-interim-ceo/741476/
Caribou Coffee appoints CFO as interim CEO | Restaurant Dive
Scott Kennedy will take on the interim leadership role when John Butcher steps down from his position on March 14.
interim ceocariboucoffeeappointscfo
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/red-lobster-ceo-damola-adamolekun/725222/
Red Lobster gets another CEO | Restaurant Dive
The chain’s pending owner has hired Damola Adamolekun to head up the reorganized company, which is planning to close 23 stores at the end of August.
red lobstergets anotherceo restaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/velvet-taco-appoints-ceo-chris-schultz/806898/
Velvet Taco hires former Starbucks exec as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Chris Schultz joins the chain after serving as CEO at Voodoo Doughnut and will oversee the 50-unit fast casual brand’s expansion into new markets.
hires formerceo restaurantvelvettacostarbucks
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/nandos-peri-peri-appoinsts-kimberly-grant-ceo/746036/
Nando’s Peri-Peri hires Ruby Tuesday vet as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Kimberly Grant, who is also former CEO of Jose Andres Group, will oversee the chain’s growth as it opens more company-owned locations in the U.S.
ruby tuesdayceo restaurantperihiresvet
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/churches-texas-chicken-promotes-roland-gonzalez-ceo/740601/
Church’s Texas Chicken appoints CEO | Restaurant Dive
Roland Gonzalez, who served as COO for the past two years, takes over at the chain as it aims to grow systemwide sales from $1.5 billion to $2 billion.
texas chickenceo restaurantappointsdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/spb-hospitality-appoints-gj-hart-ceo-chairman/761420/
SPB Hospitality appoints GJ Hart as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Sep 29, 2025 - Hart, former Red Robin CEO, succeeds Josh Kern and will oversee a slimmer multi-brand platform that recently offloaded non-core brands.
spb hospitalityceo restaurantappointsgjhart
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/tony-romas-mohaimina-haque-permanent-ceo/724973/
Tony Roma’s names permanent CEO | Restaurant Dive
Mohaimina Haque’s appointment marks a “new chapter” at the chain as it seeks to reduce costs and grow internationally.
ceo restauranttonynamespermanentdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/tijuana-flats-appoints-turnaround-expert-james-greco/718551/
Tijuana Flats appoints turnaround expert as CEO | Restaurant Dive
James Greco, who has helped revitalize brands like Sbarro and Bruegger’s, joins the fast casual brand two months after it declared bankruptcy.
ceo restauranttijuanaflatsappointsturnaround
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/red-robin-taps-torchys-tacos-chief-gj-hart-as-ceo/627344/
Red Robin taps former Torchy's Tacos chief as CEO | Restaurant Dive
G.J. Hart will become president and CEO of the burger chain effective Sept. 6 and will continue to serve as a member of its board.
red robintaps formerceo restauranttacoschief
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/pf-changs-hires-jim-mazany-ceo/805225/
P.F. Chang’s hires CEO | Restaurant Dive
Nov 11, 2025 - Jim Mazany brings decades of restaurant executive experience to the Asian chain, which is poised to ramp up growth and refine its fast casual concept.
ceo restauranthiresdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/twin-hospitality-group-hires-kim-boerema-ceo-succeeding-joe-hummel/748218/
Twin Hospitality Group hires CPK vet as CEO | Restaurant Dive
May 15, 2025 - Kim Boerema, who has over 30 years of restaurant experience, succeeds Joe Hummel, who resigned in April after Fat Brands spun off Twin Hospitality in a January...
hospitality groupceo restauranttwinhirescpk
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/chick-fil-a-names-new-ceo/606753/
Chick-fil-A names new CEO | Restaurant Dive
Andrew Truett Cathy will succeed his father Dan T. Cathy on Nov. 1 and become the third member of the Cathy family to lead the chain in its 54-year history.
names new ceochick filrestaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/mod-pizza-hires-beth-scott-ceo-co-founder-scott-svenson-executive-chairman/703896/
Mod Pizza hires Cooper’s Hawk exec as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Jan 8, 2024 - Beth Scott assumes the fast casual pizza chain’s top post and co-founder Scott Svenson steps down after 15 years to serve as executive chairman.
ceo restaurantmodpizzahireshawk
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/tropical-smoothie-cafe-hires-max-wetzel-ceo/731916/
Tropical Smoothie Cafe appoints new CEO | Restaurant Dive
Nov 4, 2024 - Max Wetzel, who previously served as CEO at CKE Restaurants for over a year, joins the smoothie chain months after it was acquired by Blackstone.
appoints new ceotropical smoothiecaferestaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/shift-change-red-robin-gets-new-ceo/562318/
Shift Change: Red Robin hires new CEO | Restaurant Dive
This week's Shift Change also highlights executives at Smoothie King, Fazoli's, Moe's Southwest Grill and Bojangles'.
shift changered robinhires newceo restaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/habit-burger-promotes-president-to-ceo/645605/
Habit Burger promotes Shannon Hennessy to CEO | Restaurant Dive
Hennessy, who has been president since July 2022, succeeds Russ Bendel, who will retire from the chain effective June 6.
habit burgerceo restaurantpromotesshannonhennessy
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/handels-ice-cream-hires-jennifer-schuler-ceo/710752/
Handel’s Ice Cream hires former Wetzel’s Pretzels chief as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Jennifer Schuler joins the 130-unit brand after nine years at Wetzel’s, including five years as CEO, as the chain expects to surpass $130 million in systemwide...
ice creamhires formerceo restaurantpretzelschief
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/Walk-Ons-Sports-Bistreaux-appoints-chris-dawson-ceo/653461/
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux appoints CEO | Restaurant Dive
Chris Dawson, who was previously president at Driven Brands, will support the 78-unit casual chain’s growth as it works toward becoming a 500-unit brand.
ceo restaurantwalksportsbistreauxappoints
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/grubhub-promotes-cfo-adam-dewitt-to-ceo/601906/
Grubhub promotes CFO Adam DeWitt to CEO | Restaurant Dive
Following the completion of Just Eat Takeaway's acquisition, Grubhub founder and CEO Matt Maloney will join JET's management board.
ceo restaurantgrubhubpromotescfoadam
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/pf-changs-appoints-brad-hill-ceo/744228/
P.F. Chang’s promotes COO Brad Hill to CEO | Restaurant Dive
Apr 2, 2025 - Hill, who has been at the company for nearly eight years, steps into the role following Eduardo Luz’s departure.
ceo restaurantpromotescoobradhill
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/dave-busters-appoints-tarun-lal-CEO/753049/
Dave & Buster’s hires ex-KFC US president as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Jul 15, 2025 - Tarun Lal brings 25 years of experience at Yum Brands to the eatertainment chain, which has struggled with quarterly same-store sales declines.
us presidentceo restaurantdavehiresex
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/panera-appoints-former-krispy-kreme-exec-as-ceo/553567/
Panera appoints Krispy Kreme exec as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Niren Chaudhary, who also worked for 20 years at Yum Brands, will replace Blaine Hurst in May and help the company's next stage of growth in the U.S. and...
krispy kremeceo restaurantpaneraappointsexec
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/yum-brands-appoints-new-ceo/560796/
Yum Brands appoints new CEO | Restaurant Dive
Following systemwide sales growth of 10% during Q2, COO David Gibbs will take the reigns from Greg Creed after his retirement.
appoints new ceoyum brandsrestaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/torchys-tacos-hires-paul-macaluso-ceo/740305/
Torchy’s Tacos hires GoTo Foods vet as CEO | Restaurant Dive
Paul Macaluso, who most recently served as president and CEO of Another Broken Egg Cafe, joins the brand as it invests in tech ahead of a growth push.
ceo restauranttacoshiresgotofoods
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/caribou-coffee-appoints-scott-kennedy-permanent-president-ceo/759054/
Caribou Coffee names permanent CEO | Restaurant Dive
Scott Kennedy, who has served as interim CEO since March, has become president and CEO of the coffee chain.
ceo restaurantcariboucoffeenamespermanent
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/aw-restaurants-promotes-betsy-schmandt-coo-ceo/741488/
A&W promotes COO to CEO post | Restaurant Dive
Betsy Schmandt, who has been with the company for 18 months, will work on enhancing the brand’s position, focus on value and continue the chain’s growth...
promotescooceopostrestaurant
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/traits-successful-restaurant-turnaround-ceo/760344/
Why picking the right CEO makes or breaks a restaurant turnaround | Restaurant Dive
Sep 29, 2025 - From Starbucks’ Brian Niccol to BJ’s Lyle Tick and Potbelly’s Bob Wright, boards have made headway with executives that implemented strategic improvements to...
pickingrightceomakesbreaks
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/checkers-rallys-names-ceo-president-chris-tebben/725468/
Checkers & Rally’s names CEO, president | Restaurant Dive
Aug 28, 2024 - Chris Tebben, who has worked at Mars, Starbucks, P.F. Chang’s and Pizza Hut, becomes the company’s top executive following Frances Allen’s departure.
ceo presidentcheckersnamesrestaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/panera-brands-ceo-jose-alberto-duenas-resigns-cfo-paul-carbone-interim/736632/
Panera Brands CEO resigns | Restaurant Dive
CFO Paul Carbone will serve as interim CEO for the company, which has yet to complete its planned IPO, in the wake of Jose Alberto Dueñas’ resignation.
ceo resignspanerabrandsrestaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/BurgerFi-International-CEO-Ian-Baines-retires/649780/
BurgerFi CEO to retire | Restaurant Dive
Ian Baines will step down in June and consult for the company for a year, and COO John Iannucci will oversee the company on an interim basis.
burgerficeoretirerestaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/togos-sandwiches-ceo-glenn-lunde-returns/759768/
Togo’s Sandwiches former CEO retakes the helm | Restaurant Dive
Glenn Lunde, who was at the brand for five years before joining Yoshinoya’s, will reprise his role with a focus on digital channels and franchised growth.
former ceosandwicheshelmrestaurantdive
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/Blaze-Pizza-John-Owen-discusses-training-new-CEO-role/809035/
Why Blaze Pizza’s new CEO began his tenure making pizzas | Restaurant Dive
John Owen told Restaurant Dive that working shoulder to shoulder with restaurant staff increased his understanding of operational issues.
new ceoblazebegantenuremaking
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/restaurant-brands-international-joshua-kobza-promoted-ceo/642693/
Restaurant Brands International promotes Joshua Kobza to CEO | Restaurant Dive
Kobza, who has worked at the company for 11 years and currently serves as COO, will become RBI’s top executive on March 1.
restaurant brandsinternationalpromotesjoshuakobza
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/just-eat-to-move-away-from-gig-worker-model-ceo-says/583544/
Just Eat to move away from gig worker model, CEO says | Restaurant Dive
Drivers in Europe could soon be employed by the delivery company, Just Eat Takeaway CEO Jitse Groen said, adding that he plans to evaluate this model for its...
ceo sayseatmoveawaygig
https://www.restaurantdive.com/news/Toppers-Pizza-CEO-Scott-Gittrich-resigns-Adam-Oldenburg-promoted/650775/
Toppers founder and CEO resigns | Restaurant Dive
Scott Gittrich, who has led the brand for over 30 years, will become chairman of the board, and VP of operations Adam Oldenburg will take over as CEO.
ceo resignstoppersfounderrestaurantdive