32 restaurant executives on the move in August, including new CEOs at Starbucks, Chipotle, Papa Johns, and more32 restaurant executives on the move in August, including new CEOs at Starbucks, Chipotle, Papa Johns, and more

August 2024 will certainly go down in the restaurant industry’s memory as the month of CEO changes. New chief executives took over — or soon will — at Starbucks, Chipotle, Papa Johns, PJW Restaurant Group, Bloomin’ Brands, Red Lobster, Checkers, and BJ’s.

Just because they don’t have new leaders, doesn’t mean other major restaurant companies aren’t making changes too.

Chick-fil-A named a new president, the sixth in the company’s history. Panera poached a new marketing chief from Papa Johns. Popeyes has new leaders for both marketing and digital. Sweetgreen has a new chief development officer. BurgerFi named a chief restructuring officer as it tries to avoid bankruptcy. FAT Brands has new senior vice presidents for non-traditional development and international development.

Chipotle, having its hand forced by CEO Brian Niccol’s departure, announced the acceleration of leadership restructuring involving at least three executives. KFC had a big shuffle between its Canada and U.S. teams, filling a marketing vacancy on the U.S. side. And Black Bear Diner has a new chief operations officer from P.F. Chang’s.

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