Fast-casual pizza chain Your Pie has promoted its chief operating officer Dave McDougall to CEO. McDougall replaces former CEO Bucky Cook, who will now serve in an advisory capacity to the growing company.
This is the second recent c-suite appointment for Your Pie, after the 70-location, Athens, Ga.-based company announced its first chief marketing officer, Lisa Dimson, at the end of October.
McDougall joined the Your Pie team in Dec. 2018, and has more than 30 years of experience in the restaurant industry, including as CEO for the Nashville-based Back Yard Burgers, executive positions at Focus Brands and Cinnabon, and managerial experience at Denny’s.
“I joined Your Pie as the brand was celebrating its 10th anniversary and have enjoyed the opportunity to help set the course for its second decade,” McDougall said in a statement. “We’ve made tremendous strides in the past year, and I’m eager to continue growing the brand, supporting franchise owners and creating unique experiences for guests. I see tremendous potential in Your Pie and this sector of the industry and look forward to the impact we’ll have in the years to come.”
As CEO, McDougall will be in charge of setting the course for Your Pie’s strategy and direction, identifying brand priorities, managing resources, and combining operational strategies with the brand’s mission and culture.
“Our leadership team and board have been impressed with Dave since day one, and we are confident that this move will benefit Your Pie at every level of the organization,” former CEO Bucky Cook said in a statement. “I look forward to the future of Your Pie and will continue to be available to Dave and the team for support and strategic advisement.”
The brand’s 4Q priorities include elevating technological integration and marketing strategy for 2020.
Your Pie is experiencing positive growth momentum and has grown their store unit count by 15% in 3Q. The company currently has 70 locations in 18 states, with more than 50 new locations in development and plans to expand their presence in Georgia, North Carolina, Florida and Virginia during 4Q.
Contact Joanna Fantozzi at [email protected]
Follow her on Twitter: @joannafantozzi
