TriArtisan Capital Advisors announced Tuesday the promotion of Brandon Coleman III from chief marketing officer of TGI Fridays to chief executive officer of the casual-dining brand. Coleman is replacing former CEO Ray Blanchette, who left the company in May amid a brand shakeup.
Under Coleman’s leadership, Fridays will enter a “transformative new phase” as the company looks to expand both menu offerings across dayparts and geographic reach with new restaurant locations, both domestically and internationally.
“Brandon has proven time and time again that innovation layered on top of rich brand history is the key to sustained and impactful growth,” Rohit Manocha, chairman of the board and co-founder of TriArtisan Capital said in a statement. “Since first coming to the company as our chief marketing officer, following a storied career in the restaurant industry, Brandon has been driving greater relevance and stronger connection with today’s consumers. TriArtisan Capital Partners believes in the future of TGI Fridays and we know what it takes for this restaurant to win.”
Before joining TGI Fridays as global CMO in 2022, Coleman served as chief marketing officer of Dave & Buster’s for two and a half years. He also held multiple leadership and executive roles at Del Frisco’s, Romano’s Macaroni Grill, and more.
As the new chief executive of TGI Fridays, Coleman will apply his eatertainment background to anchoring the Fridays brand around its heritage as an experiential bar and social gathering place, offering new cocktails, brand partnerships, as well as new zero-proof drink options. The company will also continue its partnership with C3’s Krispy Rice, started during Ray Blanchette’s tenure, which added sushi to the Fridays menu for the first time. Other accomplishments under Coleman’s leadership include expansion in the Dallas-Fort worth airport and the introduction of the new “Grilled & Sauced” menu platform.
“TGI Fridays is entering a new era of growth and prominence that will build on our beloved tradition and the emotional connection of great food and drinks along with the fun and entertainment that only TGI Fridays can do,” Coleman said in a statement. “I thank Mr. Manocha, our board of directors, and the team at TriArtisan Capital Advisors for their confidence in me and I am looking forward to working with our franchisees and our company owned restaurants to lead TGI Fridays into a new chapter.”
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