Sponsored By

Blaze Pizza names former Focus Brands exec Beto Guajardo as new CEOBlaze Pizza names former Focus Brands exec Beto Guajardo as new CEO

Guajardo comes to Blaze from Focus Brands’ international division two months after former CEO Mandy Shaw announced her departure from the company

Joanna Fantozzi, Senior Editor

January 4, 2023

1 Min Read
Nation's Restaurant News logo in a gray background | Nation's Restaurant News

Joanna Fantozzi

California-based fast-casual pizza chain Blaze Pizza announced Wednesday the appointment of Beto Guajardo — former president of Focus Brands international — as the company’s new president and CEO. Guajardo replaces Mandy Shaw as CEO after sources said she departed the company in November after serving as CEO for three years.

"I am incredibly energized and honored to be joining the Blaze Pizza team," Guajardo said in a statement. "This is an exciting time for the brand, and I'm eager to continue the initiatives underway to enhance restaurant excellence and provide value for our franchisees and customers. We have significant opportunities ahead, and I look forward to working with the team to accelerate our next phase of growth."

Prior to joining Blaze, Guajardo oversaw the international division of Focus Brands, including 1,900 restaurants, 100 franchisees and eight brands in 50 markets globally. At Focus Brands, he was also responsible for the turnaround of the 370-unit Schlotzsky's brand as president of the Focus Brands company in 2019 and 2020. He has also held leadership positions at Starbucks and Levi Strauss.

"On behalf of the Brentwood team, we are excited to start the new year with Beto at the helm," Rahul Aggarwal, partner at Brentwood Associates, an investor in Blaze Pizza said in a statement. "Blaze is an important brand in our portfolio, and Beto has extensive executive level experience leading global restaurant brands and building high performing teams. I am confident that he has the experience and strategic vision to lead Blaze, its franchisees and employees to achieve new levels of success in the future."

Contact Joanna at [email protected]

Read more about:

Blaze Pizza

About the Author

Joanna Fantozzi

Senior Editor

Joanna Fantozzi is a Senior Editor for Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality. She has more than seven years of experience writing about the restaurant and hospitality industry. Her editorial coverage ranges from profiles of independent restaurants around the country to breaking news and insights into some of the biggest brands in food and beverage, including Starbucks, Domino’s, and Papa John’s.  

Joanna holds a bachelor’s degree in English literature and creative writing from The College of New Jersey and a master’s degree in arts and culture journalism from the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. Prior to joining Informa’s Restaurants and Food Group in 2018, she was a freelance food, culture, and lifestyle writer, and has previously held editorial positions at Insider (formerly known as Business Insider) and The Daily Meal. Joanna’s work can also be found in The New York Times, Forbes, Vice, The New York Daily News, and Parents Magazine. 

Her areas of expertise include restaurant industry news, restaurant operator solutions and innovations, and political/cultural issues.

Joanna Fantozzi has been a moderator and event facilitator at both Informa’s MUFSO and Restaurants Rise industry events. 

Joanna Fantozzi’s experience:

Senior Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (August 2021-present)

Associate Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (July 2019-August 2021)

Assistant Editor, Informa Restaurant & Food Group (Oct. 2018-July 2019)

Freelance Food & Lifestyle Reporter (Feb. 2018-Oct. 2018)

Food & Lifestyle Reporter, Insider (June 2017-Feb. 2018)

News Editor, The Daily Meal (Jan. 2014- June 2017)

Staff Reporter, Straus News (Jan. 2013-Dec. 2013)

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