Shake Shack has named Stephanie Sentell chief operating officer effective July 1, ending a search that began 10 months ago with the announcement of the departure of former COO Zachary Koff.
Most recently Sentell was senior vice president of company operations at Inspire Brands, overseeing its more than 1,100 company-owned Arby’s restaurants, a brand where she worked for more than 11 years. Prior to that she was director of marketing and a franchisee of Dairy Queen.
Rob Lynch, who joined Shake Shack as its CEO in May following the retirement of Randy Garutti, praised Sentell for her leadership abilities.
“I have known Stephanie for more than 10 years and she is one of the most dynamic and compassionate leaders that I have ever worked with,” Lynch said in a press release announcing Sentell’s appointment. “She brings a wealth of operational experience and has consistently improved margins and enhanced operational efficiencies across brands, channels, and formats, including drive-thru, with a data driven approach that will further improve and optimize the way we operate our Shacks. Stephanie has the passion and strong leadership skills to build upon the principles of Enlightened Hospitality — she knows how to develop great teams, how to solve complex problems, and has an accountability mindset that will guide our teams into a bright future. I couldn’t be more excited to welcome her aboard.”
Enlightened Hospitality is Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer’s approach that emphasizes employee welfare.
Sentell expressed appreciation for that approach.
“Shake Shack is an incredible company that places its team members, guest experience, and hospitality at the forefront of all decisions,” she said in the release. “I’m thrilled to join Shake Shack at a time when the brand is positioned for considerable growth opportunities across multiple verticals. I look forward to partnering with an amazing team of leaders who have already built a successful foundation and collaborating on key opportunities to win."
Sentell will oversee the more than 340 domestic company-operated Shake Shack locations and its more than 12,000 employees. She will report directly to Lynch.
Shake shack has more than 530 locations worldwide.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]
