Subway is downsizing its corporate executive team, confirming Thursday that it was getting rid of its chief brand and innovation officer position.
“We are streamlining and simplifying our business by pushing talent and expertise closer to the regions in which we do business,” the Milford, Conn.-based quick-service sandwich brand said in a statement.
“As part of this streamlined international effort, we are eliminating the global brand and innovation function,” the company said in an email.
Len Van Popering, left, who had held the chief brand and innovation position since June, will be leaving later this month as part of the reorganization, the company said.
Bethany Appleby, Subway’s chief legal officer, will also be leaving this month, the company said, and Ilene Kolbert has been named to succeed her in that role.
Three other executives announced plans in December to leave the company, including Chief Development Officer Don Fertman and Chief Financial Officer Dave Worroll,
“We are committed to maximizing business performance and streamlining our business model will help us realize greater efficiencies across the organization,” said Subway CEO John Chidsey, who was named to the post in November, in a statement. “We are thankful for the significant contributions each of them made to the Subway brand and our franchise owners.”
Subway has about 42,400 restaurants in more than 100 countries. The brand ended 2018 with 24,798 U.S. restaurants, down from 27,103 in 2014, according to the Nation’s Restaurant News Top 200 census.
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