It was a busy month in the industry as multiple companies overhauled their C-suites
Already have an account?
January was a busy month across restaurant company C-suites as 48 people at 18 chains came and went.
Many of these companies, including Yum Brands, Starbucks, and Panera, made sweeping changes to their executive suites. Yum Brands shuffled people around between KFC (which got a new CEO) and Taco Bell (which got a new president of North America). Starbucks launched a “new operating model” ahead of potential layoffs, and as such appointed two new executives as two others departed. Panera, meanwhile, named four new executives as its CEO announced his resignation.
Smaller chains were not exempt from the chaos. Iron Hill hired a new CEO from TooJay’s, which in turn named a replacement. Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants has a new CEO as well, and Riko’s Pizza has four new leaders in place. Denny’s former president has landed at a bakery/cafe chain.
As far as departures go, longtime National Restaurant Association senior vice president Hudson Riehle announced his impending retirement, as did Starbucks’ lead independent director and former chair of the board.
Click through the above gallery to see everyone who came and went from restaurant C-suites in January, including White Castle’s first-ever non-family president.
