Brix chief technology officer Carissa DeSantis has announced her departure from the company. DeSantis posted on her LinkedIn page Monday that she has been named chief technology officer at LURIN, a real estate investment firm. She has been with JAMCO Interests LLC, parent company of Friendly’s and Brix Brands, since 2021, where she was tasked with overseeing the technology and digital efforts across brands like Red Mango, Orange Leaf, Souper Salad, Smoothie Factory, and Red Brick Pizza.
During an interview in October 2023, DeSantis said getting Brix's tech stack in order has been a major priority as the company looked to add more concepts. Many of its concepts had dated and disjointed systems.
“One of the reasons (Brix) brought me on was due to our multiple brands and acquisitions,” she said. “Everything was disjointed, nothing was cohesive, there wasn’t a source of truth for data – everybody was using something different,” she said.
She also said the company was starting to focus more on automation; for example, launching the proprietary brand Pizza Jukebox, which is fully automated.
Previously, she served as chief information officer at Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants Inc. She also led restaurant technology for TGI Fridays.
“Many thanks to my unbelievable technology team as well as everyone at Brix Holdings, not to mention the franchisees across our brand portfolio, as we accomplished many things in our time together. Things like overhauling infrastructure and upgrading a 3-decade old tech stack, best in class digital initiatives to reach our guests where they want to be reached and I can’t forget, Luigi, our pizza making robot who entertains guests while working with our team at Pizza JukeBox just to name a few,” DeSantis wrote in her LinkedIn post.
“I am extremely grateful for everything I have learned, for everyone whom I have met, and the amazing relationships I have built over the years in this industry. I firmly believe working in the restaurant space teaches one invaluable business and life skills you just don’t/can’t learn in other industries, and I am forever grateful for it.”
Contact Alicia Kelso at [email protected]
