Sponsored By

Wingstop names new chief growth officerWingstop names new chief growth officer

Marketing chief Maurice Cooper expands duties with digital role

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

March 13, 2019

2 Min Read
4
Wingstop

Wingstop Inc. has named chief marketing officer Maurice Cooper to the new position of chief growth and experience officer, effective immediately, the company said Wednesday.

The Dallas-based chicken wing brand said Cooper will also continue duties as chief marketing officer, a position he assumed in June, while also overseeing the end-to-end guest experience.

Maurice_Cooper_Wingstop_CMO.pngCooper will also lead the company’s revenue-driving initiatives, which include delivery, and digital innovation, which had been headed by Stacy Peterson Androes, who resigned earlier this year.

Cooper will continue to report to Charlie Morrison, Wingstop CEO and chairman.

Morrison said in a statement that Cooper “has done an exceptional job of sharpening our definition of the Wingstop brand and helping us to expand to new audiences.

“This expanded role will leverage his broad expertise in marketing, guest experience design and innovation,” Morrison said.

Wingstop said it is also naming company veteran Kevin Fish to senior vice president for digital. Fish has been with the brand for five years and was responsible for rolling out a new point-of-sale system and led development of the company new website and mobile app experience.

“Kevin’s leadership in digital guest experience has been a driving force for Wingstop,” Cooper said in a statement. “We are thrilled to leverage his experience.”

For the fourth quarter ended Dec. 29, Wingstop recently posted income of $2.4 million, or 8 cents a share, down 70% from the $8.1 million, or 27 cents a share, in the same period in fiscal 2017. Revenues rose 15.1%, to $40.5 million, from $35.2 million in the prior year quarter.

Domestic same-store sales rose 6% in the quarter and 6.5% for the year.

Wingstop, founded in 1994, owns and franchises more than 1,200 restaurants domestically and abroad.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected]

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

Subscribe Nation's Restaurant News Newsletters
Get the latest breaking news in the industry, analysis, research, recipes, consumer trends, the latest products and more.

You May Also Like