Sponsored By

FB Society names Brad Leist as CFOFB Society names Brad Leist as CFO

Multi-concept operator hires former Landry’s, Ignite financial chief

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

September 14, 2022

2 Min Read
Sixty Vines  Dining 0
FB Society, parent to the Sixty Vines casual-dining concept, has named Brad Leist as chief financial officer.FB Society

FB Society, the portfolio company behind such brands as Haywire, Whiskey Cake and Sixty Vines, has named Brad Leist as chief financial officer, the company announced.

FB-Society-CFO-Brad-Leist.jpgDallas-based FB-Society said Leist most recently served as the senior vice president of finance for at Houston-based Landry’s. Prior to Landry’s, he served as the chief financial officer and senior vice president of accounting and finance at the Atlanta-based Ignite Restaurant Group.

“FB Society is a growth company with an exceptional senior leadership team, and we are excited for Brad to join us as we prepare for a record year of concept and revenue growth in 2023,” said Jack Gibbons, FB Society president and CEO, in a statement.

“Brad’s success and experience as a multi-concept CFO, his financial expertise and his outstanding leadership qualities will be an invaluable addition to the team,” Gibbons said.

As CFO at Ignite, Leist was involved in company initiatives to test hand-held server devices, table-side payments and food delivery. He also coordinated a new enterprise resource planning system and centralized the company's accounting, accounts payable and indirect tax functions to the corporate office from a third-party provider.

“It is extremely exciting to join a company that has not only been phenomenally successful but also has a tremendous opportunity for significant growth for many years to come,” Leist said.

Related:Front Burner Restaurants rebrands itself as FB Society as Jack Gibbons is named CEO

FB Society includes such restaurants as Haywire, Ida Claire, Mexican Sugar and the Ranch. The company rebranded in late 2020 from Front Burner Restaurants LLC.

The company’s Sixty Vines was named a 2022 Hot Concept winner by Nation Restaurant News and will be celebrated at the CREATE: The Future of Foodservice event in Denver, Colo., Sept. 19-21.

FB Society also operates the Legacy Hall in Plano, Texas, Modern Pour premium catering, Unlawful Assembly Brewing Co. and the non-profit Furlough Kitchen.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

Read more about:

Landry’s Inc.

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.