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First Watch names Greg Barber to new positionFirst Watch names Greg Barber to new position

Former PepsiCo executive fills chief transformation officer role

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

January 14, 2020

1 Min Read
First Watch Names Greg Barber Chief Transformation Officer Beardon Unit
First Watch names Greg Barber to new chief transformation officer position.First Watch Restaurants Inc.

First Watch Restaurants Inc. has named Greg Barber to the new role of chief transformation officer, the company said Tuesday.

The Bradenton, Fla.-based breakfast-lunch brand said Barber, a former PepsiCo executive, would lead strategy development and report to Chris Tomasso, First Watch’s president and CEO.

“As we move further into 2020, we continue to refine our strategic growth plans and invest in people and platform infrastructure to support our upward trajectory,” said Tomasso in a statement. “Our focus remains on evolving in thoughtful ways to ensure First Watch’s long-term relevance while delivering lasting results.”

First Watch Greg Barber.jpgPrior to joining First Watch, Barber, left, spent nine years working for PepsiCo Inc. in Purchase, New York, where he led strategy development for the North American beverage division before ultimately leading the company’s global business development in the foodservice space.

Previously, Barber served as president of the TCBY frozen yogurt brand, a division of Mrs. Fields Famous Brands, and worked for various private equity and strategy consulting firms including Bain & Company.

First Watch, which operates seven days a week from 7 a.m. until 2:30 p.m., has more than 370 restaurants in 29 states and is majority owned by Advent International, a private-equity firm.

Related:First Watch names Chris Tomasso CEO

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

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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

 

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