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TGI Fridays CEO Ray Blanchette steps downTGI Fridays CEO Ray Blanchette steps down

The casual-dining restaurant company announced that Rohit Manocha, chairman of the board and cofounder of TriArtisan Capital Advisor, will assume the chief executive role in the interim

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

May 18, 2023

1 Min Read
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Joanna Fantozzi

TGI Fridays CEO Ray Blanchette is leaving the company effective immediately as Fridays “enters a new phase of revitalization,” the company announced Thursday afternoon. As TGI Fridays starts to look for a replacement, Rohit Manocha, chairman of the board and cofounder of Fridays’ primary investor TriArtisan Capital Advisor, will serve as interim CEO.

"We are deeply grateful for Mr. Blanchette's contributions over the last several years,” Manocha said in a statement. “We wish him the best of luck in his future endeavors, and we look forward to building on the legacy he has left to take Fridays to new heights.”

Blanchette served as CEO of TGI Fridays for five years, leading the company through a pandemic, global growth, investment in virtual restaurant brands, and more. The company did not indicate where he will be heading next.

“TGI Fridays is beginning a new phase of revitalization, innovation, and value creation,” Manocha continued. “We are turning our focus towards growth and creating relevance with today's consumers because we believe there is significant upside potential. Under Ray's leadership, the brand's performance has improved, and he built a strong operating culture that will carry us forward as we pursue new territories. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of all of our team members, Fridays is well positioned for success as we look toward the future."

Related:TGI Fridays expands its virtual restaurant partnership with C3

According to Fridays, the company has hired a global executive search firm to search for a new CEO and is taking both external and internal candidates into consideration.

TGI Fridays currently operates 700 restaurants in 52 countries. 

Contact Joanna at [email protected]

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About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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