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Chicken Salad Chick promotes 3 to the C-suite: Tom Carr to chief marketing officer, Terry McKee to chief development officer, and Jim Thompson to chief operating officerChicken Salad Chick promotes 3 to the C-suite: Tom Carr to chief marketing officer, Terry McKee to chief development officer, and Jim Thompson to chief operating officer

The fast-casual chicken chain also promoted Carrie Evans to vice president of franchise development and Mary Lou Atkins to vice president of human resources

Holly Petre, Assistant Digital Editor

August 10, 2020

2 Min Read
chicken salad chick names 5 new execs in august
Chicken Salad Chick, a former NRN Breakout Brand, named 5 new executives today.Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick, the fast-casual chicken chain with 165 units, has named three new executives to its C-suite: Chief Operating Officer Jim Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer Tom Carr and Chief Development Officer Terry McKee.

“Chicken Salad Chick could not be the brand it is today without the tireless work and dedication of the talented people that drive it to its fullest potential,” said Scott Deviney, CEO of Chicken Salad Chick, in a company release Monday.

Thompson was hired by co-founders Stacey and Kevin Brown in 2013 and helped take the brand from six to 165 units. He has been responsible for building the operations and training program across the company, according to the release.

Carr joined Chicken Salad Chick as head of the marketing team in 2016 and has been responsible for “building awareness, trial and sales as Chicken Salad Chick enters new markets.” As CMO, he will lead marketing strategies to expand the brand’s footprint.

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Chief Operating Officer Jim Thompson, Chief Marketing Officer Tom Carr and Chief Development Officer Terry McKee.

McKee has been with Chicken Salad Chick since 2015, previously spearheading growth throughout the Southeast, Midwest and Texas as VP of real estate and store development. As chief development officer, McKee will “continue to be responsible for the site selection and construction of Chicken Salad Chick’s franchised and company-owned locations,” the company said.

Related:Brentwood buys majority stake in Chicken Salad Chick parent

“Despite all that we’ve faced over the past several months, these individuals championed our brand and continued to propel it forward, so it was important for me to recognize all their contributions and provide them with the opportunity to continue to grow within our organization,” Deviney said. “We’ve come out of this challenging period stronger than we were before and are excited for all that we can accomplish in the future with this strong team in place.”

Carrie Evans.jpgIn addition to the C-suite appointments, the brand promoted two others to senior roles. Carrie Evans, left, has been promoted to vice president of franchise development, and Mary Lou Atkins to vice president of human resources. Evans previously served as an executive in franchise development for MOOYAH Burgers, Fries and Shakes; Cici’s Pizza and Nothing But Bundt Cakes before joining Chicken salad Chick in 2016. Atkins was with Popeye’s for 35 years before moving to Chicken Salad Chick in 2019.

Founded in 2008, the Auburn, Ala.-based restaurant plans to have 500 units open by the end of 2025, the company said. Chicken Salad Chick was acquired by private-equity firm Brentwood Associates in November 2019.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, the chain, which was an NRN Breakout Brand in 2015, has opened 19 units with plans to open 15 more by the end of 2020.

Related:Breakout Brands 2015: Chicken Salad Chick

Contact Holly at [email protected]

Find her on Twitter: @hollypetre

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About the Author

Holly Petre

Assistant Digital Editor

Holly Petre is a digital editor for Nation’s Restaurant News as well as the host of NRN’s podcast, Extra Serving, and producer for Informa Restaurant and Food Group’s other three podcasts, One On One by Food Management, Off the Shelf with SN and In the Kitchen with Bret Thorn. Holly holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a concentration in Sculpture, fibers and Material Studies and Ceramics from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. A native New Yorker, Holly enjoys her place on staff as the resident pop-culture expert and millennial with a sassy attitude and great sense of style.

Holly Petre’s work on Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality often covers marketing and trends, either aimed-at or examined-through the millennial mindset. Holly is responsible for introducing TikTok and Twitch to NRN and RH readers as well as explaining terms like “Karen” to staff and readers alike. She also spends her time on staff trying not to make every headline a pun.

Holly Petre hasn’t spoken at any events or on panels, but she is readily available with a killer shoe wardrobe and several witty quips.

 

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