Tim Hortons hires two executives

Tim Hortons Inc. has added two new executives to its ranks, naming Larry Mench vice president of U.S. operations and Steve Wuthmann executive vice president of human resources.

Mench, whose more than 30 years in the restaurant industry includes development and operations roles with Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Arby’s and McDonald’s, will join Tim Hortons’ U.S. office in Dublin, Ohio.

“Larry is a hands-on and passionate executive operations leader,” Mike Meilleur, executive vice president of Tim Hortons U.S., said in a statement. “He comes to us with a wealth of experience to draw upon in order to continue to grow the brand in the U.S.”

A spokeswoman for Tim Hortons’ U.S. division said Mench fills a new position for the brand.

Most recently, Mench was an operations executive with an undisclosed multiunit quick-service operator. Previously, he was a franchise development leader for Five Guys as the brand expanded in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and Michigan. Prior to that, he was director of operations for Bedford Heights, Ohio-based Zeppe’s Pizzeria and director of human resources and training for Arby’s franchisee RTM Restaurant Group in Atlanta.

Wuthmann will begin his role as executive vice president of human resources in Tim Hortons’ Oakville, Ontario, headquarters Sept. 30. He replaces Brigid Pelino, who left the company this past spring, a brand spokeswoman said.

Most recently, Wuthmann was executive vice president of supply chain for Parmalat Canada, a large dairy company. He has worked in human resources for more than 20 years for several companies, including Purolator Courier, Labatt Breweries of Canada and Canada Packers.

“Steve is an accomplished executive with substantial human resources and operational experience,” Marc Caira, the brand’s president and chief executive, said in a statement. “We are looking forward to benefiting from his strategic insights and strong leadership, and we are pleased we will be able to leverage his depth of knowledge and experience for this important role.”

Tim Hortons operates or franchises 3,468 restaurants in Canada, 807 locations in the United States and 27 units in the Gulf Cooperation Council countries.

Contact Mark Brandau at [email protected].
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