Chipotle has dropped “interim” from chief executive officer Scott Boatwright’s title, announcing that after a “robust and thorough process,” he will take over the top spot, as well as a position on the board. Boatwright was named interim CEO in August upon Brian Niccol’s departure for the CEO role at Starbucks. Prior, he served as chief operating officer since 2017, responsible for more than 125,000 employees and more than 3,600 restaurants. Prior to Chipotle, Boatwright spent 18 years with Arby's Restaurant Group in various leadership positions. He last served as senior vice president of operations, where he was responsible for the performance of over 1,700 Arby's restaurants in numerous states.

Sarah Spiegel has been named interim CEO of CKE Restaurants Holdings, parent company of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s. Spiegel is a managing director of Roark Capital, the private equity firm that is CKE’s parent company. She joined Roark in 2019 and is a member of its investment committee and is on the board of directors of GoTo Foods and Nothing Bundt Cakes as well as CKE. Prior to joining Roark she was CEO of Coffee & Bagel Brands, parent company of Einstein Bros. Bagels, Caribou Coffee, Bruegger’s Bagels, Noah’s New York Bagels, and Manhattan Bagel Company. She joined that company in 2015 as president of Einstein.

CKE’s previous CEO, Max Wetzel, has been appointed to that role at Tropical Smoothie Cafe. He succeeds Charles Watson, who is stepping down after 16 years with Tropical Smoothie Cafe (including the last six years as CEO). Before serving as CEO of Carl’s Jr. parent company, CKE Restaurants, where he oversaw more than 3,700 restaurants across 40 countries and territories, Wetzel spent four years at Papa Johns International Inc., most recently serving as executive vice president and COO of the pizza until 2023. Prior to those positions, he held multiple leadership roles at the Kraft-Heinz Company.

Peter Gaudreau is chief executive officer of Tacodeli, a 14-unit fast-casual chain based in Austin, Texas. He was CEO of breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain Ruby Slipper until March of 2023, when he started his own consulting firm. Previous jobs on his 30-year resume include a year as chief operating officer of Punch Bowl Social and nearly five years as COO of Snooze an A.M. Eatery. He was also executive vice president of operations for Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen and spent eight years at Tavistock Restaurants.

Tom’s Watch Bar, a Colorado-based sports watching eatertainment concept, has named Brooks Schaden and Shannon McNiel as co-CEOs. Both are co-founders of the growing chain. Schaden and McNiel previously served as chief financial officer and chief operating officer, respectively. Schaden brings decades of entrepreneurial, private equity, and investment banking experience, including roles at Merrill Lynch, ABN-AMRO, and in the development of Smashburger, including its sale to Jollibee Foods in 2018. McNiel has decades of senior leadership positions at brands including Texas Roadhouse, Bubbas 33, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen, and Darden.

Red Lobster has named Larry Konecny its chief operating officer as new CEO Damola Adamolekun continues to build his executive team. Konecny, most recently COO and chief concept officer of Maggiano’s Little Italy, will lead operational strategy for the casual-dining seafood chain’s 545 restaurants in the United States and Canada, including initiatives to improve food quality, customer service, and operational efficiency, “while fostering a culture rooted in teamwork and excellence.” Prior to Konecny’s C-level positions at Maggiano’s, he was vice president of innovation and restaurant support and was credited with improving lunch traffic.

Panera Brands announced two big board of directors appointments ahead of a possible IPO filing: Patrick Grismer, former CFO of Starbucks has been promoted to bard chair, and David Deno, retired CEO of Bloomin’ Brands has joined the board as the audit committee chair. Grismer has until now served as the lead independent director and chair of the audit and finance committee for the Panera board since 2022. Before serving on the Panera board, Grismer was CFO of Starbucks until 2021, and held executive leadership positions at Hyatt Hotels, Yum Brands, and The Walt Disney Company. Deno has more than 40 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industries. Most recently, he served as CEO of Bloomin’ Brands for five years before retiring in September. He also currently serves on the board of fellow JAB Holding Company-owned brand, Krispy Kreme. This is Deno’s first time joining a new executive board since his retirement from Bloomin’ Brands in September, though he had previously served on the boards of Panera sister brands Caribou Coffee and Einstein’s. Grismer, Deno, and the rest of the Panera executive board are expected to lead Panera into its new phase as a public company. 

Charlie Morrison is stepping down as CEO of Salad and Go after two and a half years in the role. Morrison left Wingstop in March 2022 to assume the title. He advised employees in September that he would be stepping down both from the CEO role and the board. He said the company was looking for a new CEO and would announce a selection soon.

Wendy’s announced the appointment of former UPS head of financial planning and analysis of the U.S. division, Ken Cook, as CFO. Cook spent his 20-year career in various roles at UPS, including CFO, where he led the financial planning and execution for the company’s business unit. He also held roles in investor relations and treasury, along with more than three years as the CFO of the UPS South Asia division.

Jack in the Box has named Lance Tucker as chief financial officer. Tucker is currently CFO of Davidson Hospitality group. He has also served as CFO at CKE Restaurants Inc. and Papa Johns. Tucker earlier served as CFO of Jack in the Box from March 2018 to July 2020. He succeeds Brian Scott, who stepped down in November. As CFO, Tucker will oversee all aspects of financial strategy, planning, and operations. He will also collaborate with the executive team.

Jack in the Box is also restructuring its operations leadership. Tony Darden, chief operating officer, will vacate the position and Ryan Ostrom, current chief marketing and digital officer, will assume operations. Darden had been with Jack in the Box since June 2021. Ostrom has been named chief customer and digital officer, effective Dec. 6.

Krispy Kreme chief growth officer and president, international Matthew Spanjers is leaving the company, according to an 8-K form filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Spanjers informed the Charlotte, N.C.-based doughnut brand on Nov. 7 that he will be leaving the company effective Dec. 31. Spanjers has been a driving force behind Krispy Kreme’s expansion strategy through its “DFD” (Delivered Fresh Daily) partnerships with retailers like McDonald’s, Target, Walmart, Costco, and more, as the company has made the shift over the past few years from Hot Light stores to largely DFD channels.

Smoothie King has announced the appointment of Jyoti Lynch as chief information officer. Lynch joins from Red Robin, where she served as chief technology officer for almost a year and a half, leading strategic and operational planning, innovation, and growth for the brand’s technology division. She has more than 25 years of experience in the tech space. In her new role, Lynch will lead Smoothie King’s technology strategy, helping to lead its digital transformation and consumer experience. She will build out a technology strategy that supports continued business growth for the brand, including franchisee profitability.

Kieran Donahue, former chief marketing officer of IHOP, has left the Dine Brands company to join GoTo Foods (formerly Focus Brands) as executive vice president and chief commercial officer. Donahue joined GoTo Foods after more than three years at IHOP, where she led the commercial business for the 1,800-unit chain, launched a digitally integrated loyalty program in 2022, and led all things branding, omnichannel, digital innovation, communications, and social media for the brand. In her new role at GoTo Foods — parent company of Auntie Anne’s, Jamba, Cinnabon, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and more — Donahue will develop and drive the omnichannel, global, commercial, and marketing strategy for all seven GoTo Foods brands.

Moe’s Southwest Grill announced the promotion of Mike Smith from vice president of operations to chief brand officer. Smith had served in his previous role at the Atlanta-based GoTo Foods company since 2022, where he led all aspects of operational strategy, including driving profitability and ensuring brand consistency. Before joining Moe’s, Smith held multiple leadership positions at Taziki’s Mediterranean Café. Most recently, he served as chief operating officer for the brand for nearly two and a half years. Before that, he worked at Hooter’s, where he had multiple roles, including vice president of operations.

In total, Smith has more than two decades of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industries. In his new role at Moe’s, Smith will be focused on operational excellence and growth.

Nothing Bundt Cakes has named franchise development veteran Joel Larkin as chief development officer. Larkin brings more than two decades of franchise development and operations expertise. He most recently served as chief franchise and development officer at European Wax Center, where he oversaw its expansion to more than 1,000 locations. He also held senior leadership positions at Victra and Select Communications. At Nothing Bundt Cakes, he will be responsible for identifying and supporting new franchise partners while enhancing resources for existing owners.

Emmy Squared — the Brooklyn-founded Detroit pizza and burger concept — has announced an overhaul of its C-suite. 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 earlier this year, though he remains a board member. As the new CEO of Emmy Squared, Tracy will oversee strategic growth and expansion and will work to further advance the reputation and status of the company as a leader in the casual-dining category. In his previous role, Tracy oversaw operations at Huddle House, where he helped lead the brand into a growth era and drove portfolio profitability. Tracy also has previously held leadership positions at Captain D’s, Arby’s, and NPC International throughout his 25-year career in restaurants. Additionally, Carrie Hart joined Emmy Squared Pizza as the company’s new chief financial officer from Snooze an A.M. Eatery, where she previously worked for nearly eight years, most recently as executive vice president of accounting and finance for the breakfast brand. Hart also held leadership positions at Noodles & Company, where she worked for more than a decade in the financial department. Emmy Squared also appointed Sergio Perez as senior vice president and head of marketing, where he joined the company in July from Bojangles. He will head brand and digital strategy, off-premises innovation, customer engagement, public relations, and local marketing. Eva Love has been appointed senior director of training for Emmy Squared Pizza. She joined the team in July and has previously served as a life coach and also held leadership positions at Black Rifle Coffee Co., Sixty Vines, and Huddle House.