Bonchon U.S. has named Suzi Tsai, chief growth officer, as CEO to succeed Bryan Shin, who will focus on international development.

The Wendy’s Co. has named Kirk Tanner, a former PepsiCo Inc. division CEO, as president and CEO to succeed Todd Penegor in that role, the company said Thursday. The positions are effective Feb. 5.

Costa Mesa, Calif.-based El Pollo Loco has named former Taco Bell president Liz Williams as its CEO and director. Williams will began her tenure on March 11.

Mountain Mike’s Pizza, a restaurant chain based in Newport Beach, Calif., announced it had promoted president and chief operating officer Jim Metevier, to CEO.

Noodles & Company has named Drew Madsen its CEO effective March 6. He was named interim CEO in November 2023. He will also remain a member of the board of directors.

Fast-casual pizza chain &pizza has named Mike Burns its new CEO, taking over from co-founder Michael Lastoria, the company announced in March.

Starbucks announced in March the promotion of former company group president of International and Channel Development, Michael Conway, to the newly created role of CEO, North America.

Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream has named Jennifer Schuler as its new chief executive officer in March. Schuler most recently served as CEO at Wetzel’s Pretzels, where she helped grow the company from 200 to 350 locations and average unit volumes by 24% to just under $1 million.

Cheyenne, Wyoming-based quick-service Mexican chain, Taco John’s, announced in March the appointment of Heather Neary as new CEO of the brand. She replaces former Taco John’s CEO Jim Creel, who announced his retirement in June 2023.

In March, Smashburger announced the appointment of former Starbucks executive, Denise Nelsen, as the Denver, Colo.-based burger chain’s new CEO. Nelsen’s appointment follows the departure of former Smashburger president, Carl Bachmann, who left the brand to join BurgerFi last year.

In March, Rob Lynch left his role as CEO of Papa Johns to take on the same position at Shake Shack, effective May 20. Lynch succeeds Randy Garutti, who announced his intentions to retire in December 2023 after leading the company for more than two decades.

In March, Red Lobster named Jonathan Tibus CEO as current chief executive Horace Dawson announced his retirement, the Orlando Business Journal reported. Tibus had been managing director of management consulting firm Alvarez Marsal in Atlanta for the past 22 years.

Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, the fast-casual restaurant concept, named Jeff Galletly as its first CEO, the company said in April.

CEC Entertainment LLC., parent to Chuck E. Cheese, Peter Piper Pizza, and Pasqually's Pizza & Wings, named Scott Drake as EVP, CFO, the company announced in May. Drake is one of four executives who were named to leadership positions at the Irving, Texas-based chain.

Private equity firm Hargett Hunter announced in May the appointment of Scott Taylor as CEO of the company’s newly created full-service restaurant group, Cherry Bounce Hospitality. Taylor previously worked at Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, where he spent 14 years at the company, first as president and COO, and most recently as president and CEO—a position that he held for eighteen months until June 2023.

In May, José Andrés named Sam Bakhshandehpour as global chief executive officer of José Andrés Group. In this role, he will work closely with Ron Parker, president and chief operating officer, and Nester Nova, chief financial officer.

In June, Condado Tacos has named Derrick Pratt as its new CEO, effective July 1. Pratt joins the company from Portillo’s, where he has served as chief operating officer since 2021, leading operations, real estate development, marketing, and supply chain management. In that role, Pratt helped implement various technology initiatives and increased net promoter and guest satisfaction scores.

Tijuana Flats, the fast-casual Mexican restaurant chain, named James Greco as CEO to lead the brand through its restructuring and turnaround, the company said in June.

In July, Mountain West Brands, LLC announced the appointment of Neil Harfert as its new Chief Executive Officer. Harfert will lead the company, which includes three esteemed legacy restaurant groups in Utah: Market Street Grill, Chuck-A-Rama, and Grub Steak.

Joey Simons has joined fine-dining Greek seafood restaurant concept Estiatorio Milos as its first CEO, the New York City-based company announced in July. Most recently he was CEO of Montclair Hospitality Group, which operates Japanese and Italian restaurants in New York and New Jersey, including trendy Wafu Italian concept PastaRamen. Prior to that role, Simons was chief operating officer and chief of staff for Los Angeles-based multi-concept restaurant and club operator SBE.

Puttshack announced in July the promotion of Logan Powell from chief financial officer to CEO, effective immediately. Powell had served as global president and chief financial officer of the Chicago-based mini golf eatertainment brand since 2019 and succeeds Joe Vrankin, who was the company’s CEO in the U.K. and brought the concept overseas to the U.S. in 2021.

In August, Papa Johns named Todd Penegor as its new president and chief executive officer. He has also been named to the company’s board of directors. With this announcement, Penegor joins a small handful of permanent CEOs in the company’s 40-year history, following founder John Schnatter, Nigel Travis, Steve Ritchie, and, most recently, Rob Lynch, who left earlier this year for the same role at Shake Shack. 

In August, PJW Restaurant Group promoted Jessica Breslow to chief executive from chief operating officer, succeeding Jim Fris, who is retiring.

Starbucks announced in August that it had named Brian Niccol as its new chief executive officer, replacing Laxman Narasimhan after just about a year and a half in the role. Since his appointment, he's made headlines for his moves to bring back Starbucks' success.

Bloomin’ Brands Inc., parent to Outback Steakhouse and other brands, has named Michael L. Spanos CEO, effective Sept. 3, succeeding David Deno, the company said in August.

Damola Adamolekun will be Red Lobster’s chief executive officer if its sale to an affiliate of Fortress Capital goes through, Fortress said in August.

In August, Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc., the parent company of quick-service chains Checkers & Rally’s, named Chris Tebben chief executive officer, effective Sept. 4. He succeeds Frances Allen, who announced in April that she would be stepping down.

In August, BJ’s Restaurants announced after market that Bradford Richmond will serve as interim CEO, effective immediately, after Greg Levin stepped down from his position, as well as from the board of directors.

Whataburger announced in September that chief executive officer Ed Nelson is retiring at the end of 2024 after a career spanning two decades with the brand. Debbie Stroud, current executive vice president and chief operating officer, will take over as president and CEO on Jan. 1, 2025. 

In September, Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux announced today the promotion of Chris Porcelli to CEO. He joined the company a year ago and has since served as chief financial officer, responsible for directing strategic planning, supply chain management, and human resources.

Also in September, Artistry Restaurants, which has a portfolio of five brands with 29 locations in the Southeast, has named Bryan Lockwood as CEO, the company announced this week.

In October, Salt Lake City-based Beans & Brews Coffeehouse has named Doug Willmarth chief executive officer, effective immediately. Willmarth has served as president of Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes since November 2021, leading a revitalization plan to drive sales and unit count growth.

Golden Krust, a fast-casual Jamaican restaurant based in New York City, named Jacqueline Hawthorne-Robinson its chairman and chief executive officer and Glenn Fancie its chief financial officer in October.

California-based Togo’s Sandwiches named Matt Dowling as its new chief executive officer following the departure of Glenn Lunde in October. Dowling is charged with overseeing operations, strategy, and growth, while also driving financial performance as he continues his current role as chief financial officer.

Nicholas Stone, founder and chief executive of Bluestone Lane, an Australian-inspired coffeehouse chain that operates some 65 restaurants nationwide, stepped aside in October, handing the CEO reins to Edie Ames, who has a track record of overseeing the sale of foodservice companies and who assumed her position at the end of October.

Clean Eatz, the health-focused meal-plan company, named Eric Wyatt, former Norms Restaurants CEO, as its first chief executive, the company announced in October.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe announced in November the appointment of Max Wetzel as CEO of the Atlanta-based chain. Wetzel joins Tropical Smoothie Cafe from CKE Restaurants, where he served as CEO of the company since last year. He succeeds Charles Watson, who stepped down after 16 years with Tropical Smoothie Café (including the last six years as CEO).

In November, Sarah Spiegel was named interim CEO of CKE Restaurants Holdings, the parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s, following the departure of Max Wetzel, who joined Tropical Smoothie Café as its CEO.

Chipotle Mexican Grill has dropped “interim” from chief executive officer Scott Boatwright’s title, announcing in November that after a “robust and thorough process,” he will take over the top spot, as well as a position on the board, effective immediately.

Emmy Squared — the Brooklyn-founded Detroit pizza and burger concept — announced an overhaul of its C-suite in November. The Nashville, Tenn.-based, 28-unit chain officially announced the appointment of former Ascent Hospitality Management COO Troy Tracy as its new CEO, replacing Howard Greenstone, who stepped down as CEO earlier this year, though he remains a board member.

Tom’s Watch Bar, a Colorado-based sports watching eatertainment concept, named Brooks Schaden and Shannon McNiel as co-CEOs in November. Both are co-founders of the growing chain, along with fellow industry veterans Tom Ryan and Rick Schaden, both of whom remain with the company as board members and active advisors

In November it was announced that John Chidsey, global CEO of Subway, will retire at the end of 2024 after five years in the role, the company said Tuesday. Carrie Walsh, Subway's president of Europe, Middle East, and Africa and former global chief marketing officer, will assume the role of interim CEO.

In November, Peter Gaudreau became chief executive officer of Tacodeli, a 14-unit fast-casual chain based in Austin, Texas, with locations in Dallas, Houston, and Plano, as well as its hometown.

In December, the Florida-based, family-owned restaurant group Duffy’s Sports Grill announced the promotion of Joe Webb to chief executive officer after having served as president for the past five years.