La Madeleine names John Cahill presidentLa Madeleine names John Cahill president

John Cahill. Photo: La Madeleine

La Madeleine Country French Café has promoted John Cahill to the role of president, the company said this week.

The Dallas-based bakery-café division of Le Duff America Inc. named Cahill, most recently the 75-unit chain’s chief operating officer, to succeed Phil Costner, who left in 2013 to head Le Duff’s Mimi’s Café brand.

In addition to promoting Cahill, La Madeleine also appointed Duncan Davis vice president of operations. Davis was most recently a regional vice president at O’Charley’s. He has also worked at Darden Restaurants Inc. and TGI Fridays. Duncan will lead La Madeleine’s operations services and training.

“Duncan continues our trend of adding top-tier talent to the executive team,” Cahill said in a statement. “He’s incredibly talented and knows the restaurant industry intimately. As we look to Duncan to lead our operations team, his impact will be felt in a positive way quickly.”

Duncan Davis. Photo: La Madeleine

La Madeleine said it was committed to strategic expansion, in both franchising and new corporate restaurants.

Cahill, who joined the La Madeleine corporate team in 2002, will oversee operations, finance, strategic growth planning, culinary, marketing, design and purchasing functions for the brand.

“It’s a thrill to be part of such an inspired group of colleagues at the corporate office and a team in the field that is second to none,” said Cahill, who began his restaurant career in 1986 as the director of operations for Spaghetti Warehouse. He has also held executive roles with Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill.

Founded in Dallas in 1983, La Madeleine has cafés in Arizona, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia.

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