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Famous Brands makes management changesFamous Brands makes management changes

David Bloom named SVP strategic development, among other moves

Lisa Jennings, Executive Editor

October 17, 2013

2 Min Read
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Famous Brands International announced several changes to its management team this week, including the appointment of David Bloom to senior vice president of strategic development.

Bloom previously served as chief development officer of Hurricane Grill & Wings, since June 2012. Prior to that, he was chief operations officer for Bridge International Academies, where he led international development and operations.

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From 1998 to 2006, and from 2009 to 2011, Bloom was senior vice president of brand expansion at Quiznos.

Broomfield, Colo.-based Famous Brands also made the following management changes:

• Dustin Finkel, former senior director of marketing, licensing, innovation and strategy, was named vice president of marketing.

• Belinda Oakley, former vice president of operations, has been appointed to the position of vice president of operations.

• Cassie Alvey, former director of marketing for Mrs. Fields Gifts, is the new vice president of the Mrs. Fields Gifting division.

Famous Brands CEO Neal Courtney said the changes will further improve organizational efficiencies as the company continues to execute on growth initiatives.

“I believe that we now have the right team in place to unlock the full potential of the iconic Mrs. Fields and TCBY brands,” he said in a statement.

The company would not comment on whether anyone was replaced with these moves.

The management changes follow Courtney’s appointment to chief executive in July. Courtney served as interim CEO since February, following the departure of former CEO Tim Casey to Qdoba Mexican Grill.

Also in July, private-equity firm Z Capital Partners became Famous Brands’ sole shareholder after acquiring a minority stake owned by The Carlyle Group.

Famous Brands has more than 300 U.S. retail locations of the Mrs. Fields cookie chain, and another 100 locations internationally. Frozen-yogurt chain TCBY has more than 650 units worldwide.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].
Follow her on Twitter: @livetodineout

About the Author

Lisa Jennings

Executive Editor, Nation's Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality

Lisa Jennings is executive editor of Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She joined the NRN staff as West Coast editor in 2004 as a veteran journalist. Before joining NRN, she spent 11 years at The Commercial Appeal, the daily newspaper in Memphis, Tenn., most recently as editor of the Food and Health & Wellness sections. Prior experience includes staff reporting for the Washington Business Journal and United Press International.

Lisa’s areas of expertise include coverage of both large public restaurant chains and small independents, the regulatory and legal landscapes impacting the industry overall, as well as helping operators find solutions to run their business better.

Lisa Jennings’ experience:

Executive editor, NRN (March 2020 to present)

Executive editor, Restaurant Hospitality (January 2018 to present)

Senior editor, NRN (September 2004 to March 2020)

Reporter/editor, The Commercial Appeal (1990-2001)

Reporter, Washington Business Journal (1985-1987)

Contact Lisa Jennings at:

[email protected]

@livetodineout

https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisa-jennings-83202510/

 

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