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.
Dallas-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.
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.
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