White Castle System Inc. is keeping its top leadership in the family with the promotion of Lisa Ingram to president.
Lisa Ingram is the great-granddaughter of Columbus, Ohio-based White Castle founder Billy Ingram and daughter of current chairman and chief executive Bill Ingram.
Previously, she had been chief operating officer and president of the company’s restaurant division. With her promotion to president of White Castle System Inc., she now adds oversight of the company’s frozen-foods division and subsidiary Porcelain Steel Buildings.
“I’ve been fortunate to work as part of a fourth-generation family business,” she said. “All of the third-generation family members have served as mentors and helped me appreciate what we mean to craving customers and our aspirations for the future of this great company. I’m fortunate to be surrounded by excellent leaders who will support our efforts to overcome challenges in growing our family business into the second centennial.”
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Lisa Ingram worked for White Castle at the unit level in high school before attending Southern Methodist University in Texas, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in 1993. She returned to the family business in 1997 as a regional marketing manager. Next, she took on the role of director of restaurant operations after earning her master’s degree in business administration from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University in 2000.
“Lisa is a highly respected business leader who has gained the experience necessary to guide the company into future growth,” Bill Ingram said. “She’s committed to growing the family business while adhering to the values that have guided White Castle since opening our first restaurant in 1921.”
Members of the Ingram family have privately owned and run White Castle since Billy Ingram opened the first location in Wichita, Kan. Billy Ingram was president until 1966, when he promoted his son Edgar to succeed him in the post. Bill Ingram took over as president from his father Edgar in 1980.
Lisa Ingram serves on the boards of the Columbus Chamber of Commerce, the United Way, Action for Children and the National Restaurant Association.
White Castle has more than 400 quick-service restaurants in 12 states.
Contact Mark Brandau at mark.brandau@penton.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @Mark_from_NRN