Noodles & Company has named Stephen Kennedy as its new executive vice president of marketing effective Nov. 18. He is charged with leading the brand strategy and customer growth initiatives.
Kennedy most recently served as vice president of growth at Bounteous, where he led digital strategies to enhance brand experiences. Prior, he served as vice president of marketing and head of marketing enablement at Nestle, increasing media return on investment, social engagement, and e-commerce sales through a digital marketing approach. For nine years, Kennedy served in various capacities at Domino’s Pizza, where he contributed to the company’s record sales growth and guided the insights team on product launches and promotions, including the Pan Pizza and the $5.99 Mix and Match deal.
Kennedy also led the pilot, launch, and management of the Piece of the Pie Rewards program, overseeing all owned and paid digital marketing efforts. He also has experience in brand strategy and insights at General Motors and began his career in marketing at Borders Group Inc. where he managed CRM and loyalty marketing teams.
"Stephen is a transformational marketing leader with over two decades of experience driving growth for iconic brands," chief executive officer Drew Madsen said in a statement. "We're excited to add his expertise in digital innovation and customer engagement to our team as we deepen our brand relevance, capture new customers, and drive sustained, profitable growth."
Kennedy has received numerous awards from several organizations, including Loyalty 360, The ARF David Ogilvy Awards, The Effie Awards, The American Advertising Federation, The In-House Agency Forum, Communication Arts, and Restaurant Business Tech Accelerator.
“I'm filled with excitement and a deep sense of confidence in our future. Noodles & Company is a unique brand with a powerful legacy, created by inspired team members and franchisees passionate about bringing Uncommon Goodness to guests. I'm thrilled to build upon this strength and to lead the marketing transformation charge. Together, we will amplify our brand relevance and deepen our connection with guests. With a shared vision for growth and an unwavering commitment to guests and franchisees, I'm confident that Noodles best days lie ahead,” he said in a statement.
Noodles is coming off of a second quarter in which same-store sales grew by 2% and revenue grew by 1.8%. Prior, the company had been navigating eroding traffic and sales and implemented a turnaround plan under Madsen, who joined in March. Noodles reports third-quarter results on Nov. 6.
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
