Qdoba Mexican Eats announced Monday the appointment of former CKE Restaurant Holdings executive Jim Sullivan as the fast-casual chain’s chief development officer. Sullivan will be in charge of all development plans including market planning, site selection, real estate negotiations, and franchise sales to boost Qdoba’s “aggressive growth plan.”
“Jim brings a unique perspective and strong leadership approach, backed by a proven track record of successfully accelerating franchise growth for some of the nation's leading restaurant concepts,” Keith Guilbault, CEO of Qdoba said in a statement. “His expertise and years of experience in growing brands similar to ours in size and scale will serve us well in connecting with new franchise partners, expanding our nationwide footprint, and reaching new heights as a company.”
With 25 years of experience in the restaurant industry, Sullivan previously worked in multiple positions for Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s parent CKE Holdings, where he led domestic development, real estate and construction activities like design, restaurant maintenance, real estate, market planning, asset management, franchise sales strategies, and compliance. He also was briefly the chief development officer for Modern Market Eatery and Lemonade parent company, Modern Restaurant Concepts, and previously held the position of chief development officer at Friendly’s Ice Cream Corporation.
“As a fan of the company, I'm thrilled to be joining Qdoba at such a pivotal moment in its next phase of expansion,” Sullivan said in a statement. “In my new role, I will be focused on entering new markets and strengthening our brand presence in existing markets.”
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