32 restaurant executives on the move in August, including new CEOs at Starbucks, Chipotle, Papa Johns, and more

BJ’s Restaurants announced that https://www.nrn.com/people/bj-s-restaurants-ceo-greg-levin-steps-down-br... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Bradford Richmond will serve as interim CEO after Greg Levin stepped down from his position, as well as from the board of directors. Richmond has served on the board since February 2024 and will continue to serve during his interim appointment. He served as the chief financial officer of Darden Restaurants from 2006 to 2015, when he retired.

https://www.nrn.com/people/pf-chang-s-veteran-art-kilmer-named-chief-ope... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Black Bear Diner has named Art Kilmer as its chief operations officer, replacing Jeff Guido, who retired. Kilmer brings over two decades of restaurant industry experience to Black Bear Diner, most recently serving as COO for P.F. Chang’s for six years.

Bloomin’ Brands Inc., parent to Outback Steakhouse and other brands, has https://www.nrn.com/casual-dining/outback-parent-bloomin-names-mike-span... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">named Michael L. Spanos CEO, succeeding David Deno. Spanos joins the company from Delta Air Lines, where he served as executive vice president and chief operating officer. Deno announced his impending retirement in May and will serve in a transitional role until Dec. 31.

BurgerFi International hiredhttps://www.nrn.com/fast-casual/burgerfi-names-jeremy-rosenthal-chief-re... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline"> Jeremy Rosenthal as its chief restructuring officer. The burger chain, which also owns the Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza brand, said Rosenthal had been a partner at advisory firm Force 10 Partners since October 2018. His experience includes serving as CEO, CRO, and independent director or trustee for companies in a variety of industries.

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc., parent company of quick-service chains Checkers & Rally’s, named https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/checkers-names-chris-tebben-ceo" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Chris Tebbens chief executive officer. He succeeds Frances Allen, who announced in April that she would be stepping down. Tebben arrives from Mars Retail Group, where he was president for two years. Previously, he spent eight years at Starbucks in various roles, most recently as vice president of Starbucks Reserve.

https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/susannah-frost-named-president-chick-fil" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Susannah Frost has been named president of Chick-fil-A, effective Oct. 1. Andrew Cathy will retain his role as chief executive officer, leading enterprise strategy and culture, while Frost will focus on core business operations. She will also lead the executive committee. Frost currently leads restaurant development and field operations for Chick-fil-A, overseeing the company’s real-estate portfolio and field operations. She has been with Chick-fil-A since 2007.

https://www.nrn.com/people/scott-boatwright-named-chipotle-s-interim-ceo... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Scott Boatwright has been named Chipotle’s interim chief executive officer in the wake of Brian Niccol’s departure for the CEO role at Starbucks, effective Aug. 31. Boatwright has served as Chipotle’s chief operating officer since 2017 and has been instrumental in driving restaurant operations. Prior to joining Chipotle, he served as senior vice president of operations at Arby’s Restaurant Group.

Chipotle announced https://www.nrn.com/news/chipotle-cfo-jack-hartung-remain-president-and-... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">the acceleration of leadership restructuring in the wake of Brian Niccol’s departure as CEO. CFO Jack Hartung, who had previously announced his retirement, will remain on indefinitely as president and chief strategy officer. Hartung’s former position of chief financial and administrative officer will be split into two roles. Adam Rymer, a 15-year Chipotle veteran who most recently served as vice president of finance, will take over as CFO. Jamie McConnell, a six-year Chipotle veteran who most recently served as vice president, controller, will transition into the role of chief accounting and administrative officer.

FAT Brands announced the hiring of https://www.nrn.com/people/fat-brands-bolsters-development-team-2-new-se... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Ammy Harrison as senior vice president of non-traditional development and Maiyo Hood as vice president of international development. Harrison has nearly 25 years of industry experience with brands including Papa Johns and Penn Station East Coast Subs. Hood most recently served as managing director at Subway, Greater China, and held a supply chain role at Yum Brands.

Catherine Tan-Gillespie, who has served as president and general manager of KFC Canada since January 2022, has been named https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/kfc-us-names-brand-veteran-catherine-t... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">chief marketing officer and chief development officer for KFC U.S. She replaces Nick Chavez, who has served as the chief marketing officer at KFC U.S. since late 2021. Meanwhile, Ryan Koon, who was named KFC U.S.’s CDO in May, will move into Tan-Gillespie’s role in the Canadian market.  

Heidi Capozzi, McDonald’s executive vice president and global chief people officer, is departing the company to pursue a new opportunity. Current senior vice president and chief people officer for McDonald’s USA https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/tiffanie-boyd-named-mcdonald-s-global-... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Tiffanie Boyd has been promoted to assume Capozzi’s role. She oversees the company’s human resources operations around the world, including talent management, talent acquisition, total rewards, learning and development, diversity/equity/inclusion, culture, and organization effectiveness.

The Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance https://www.nrn.com/news/multicultural-foodservice-hospitality-alliance-... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">has named Erika Cospy to lead the educational nonprofit organization. Cospy joined on Aug. 5, and succeeds Gerry A Fernandez as the head of the organization. Fernandez retired at the end of 2023, after 27 years of service. Cospy has more than two decades of experience leading change initiatives at nonprofits and in corporate environments. She was the chief impact and growth officer for the National Association of Black Accountants; senior director, advisory services for Grads of Life; and senior manager, national community engagement for the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. She also founded her own consulting firm in 2022.

Panera Bread announced the appointment of former Papa Johns chief marketing officer https://www.nrn.com/news/panera-bread-announces-appointment-mark-shambur... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Mark Shambura as its new CMO. The marketing role had previously been filled by Eduardo Luz, who had served as chief brand officer until last year. Shambura officially joined the team at the end of July and reports directly to CEO José Alberto Dueñas. Before working at Papa Johns, Shambura held positions at MOD Pizza and Chipotle. In his new role, he will oversee all aspects of marketing at Panera, including brand building, digital and loyalty, product strategy, and consumer insights.

https://www.nrn.com/node/434172" style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Papa Johns has named Todd Penegor as its new president and chief executive officer. He has also been named to the company’s board of directors. With this announcement, Penegor joins a small handful of permanent CEOs in the company’s 40-year history. Penegor succeeds Ravi Thanawala, who has served as interim CEO since Rob Lynch left for the same role at Shake Shack in March. Thanawala will continue in his role as the chain’s chief financial officer.

https://www.nrn.com/casual-dining/pjw-restaurant-group-promotes-jessica-... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">PJW Restaurant Group has promoted Jessica Breslow to chief executive from chief operating officer, succeeding Jim Fris, who is retiring. Breslow joined PJW in 2016 to lead the company’s technology and marketing initiatives. The company said that Fris would remain a board member. Before joining PJW, Breslow was an associate vice president for onsite operator Aramark, where she worked in marketing and operations strategies for its education foodservice business.

Popeyes for the U.S. and Canada has named https://www.nrn.com/quick-service/popeyes-names-bart-lacount-matt-rubin-... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Bart LaCount as chief marketing officer and Matt Rubin as chief digital officer. La Count will lead all marketing efforts focused on growing traffic and accelerating sales growth as part of the Popeyes “Easy to Love” strategy. This new hire comes following the promotion of previous CMO and now president of Popeyes, Jeff Klein. LaCount joins from PepsiCo. Rubin will oversee the Popeyes digital and technology teams guiding the digital growth strategy. He’s been with Restaurant Brands International for more than eight years.

https://www.nrn.com/casual-dining/damola-adamolekun-named-future-ceo-red... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Damola Adamolekun will be Red Lobster’s chief executive officer if its sale to an affiliate Fortress Capital goes through. The appointment and sale both still require court approval as the company is undergoing reorganization following its filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in May. Adamolekun most recently was CEO of P.F. Chang’s, a position he held until December of 2023, and he has since been an operating partner of Garnett Station Partners, whose portfolio includes Pollo Tropical, Primanti Bros, Twin Peaks, Checkers, and Carrols Restaurant Group.

Rosa Mexicano announced the appointment of https://www.nrn.com/people/rosa-mexicano-appoints-hospitality-veteran-ma... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Matthew Licciardello as its new chief operating officer. His experience in hospitality includes serving as senior vice president of operations at SPB Hospitality, where he led brands such as Rock Bottom Brewery, Gordon Biersch, and Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom. He has also worked at Live Dining & Entertainment, TGI Fridays, and Bar Louie.

Starbucks has named https://www.nrn.com/people/chipotle-s-brian-niccol-named-starbucks-ceo-r... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Brian Niccol as its new chief executive officer, replacing Laxman Narasimhan after just about a year and a half in the role. Starbucks chief financial officer Rachel Ruggeri will lead the company in the interim until Niccol takes over as CEO and executive chairman of the Starbucks board on Sept. 9. Mellody Hobson, Starbucks board chair, will transition to serve as lead independent director when Niccol assumes his role. Niccol has served as Chipotle’s CEO since 2018.

Sweetgreen announced the appointment of https://www.nrn.com/news/sweetgreen-appoints-christopher-tarrant-senior-... style="color:#467886; text-decoration:underline">Christopher Tarrant as senior vice president, chief development officer. Tarrant most recently served as the chief development officer for dessert brand Nothing Bundt Cakes. In his new role, he will report to Sweetgreen’s chief operating officer, Rossann Williams, and will oversee real estate development, design, and construction for the brand.