Continue to Site >>>

leadership

Leadership

Taco Bamba has a new CEO, and other restaurant chain executive moves

 By Restaurant Business Staff on Feb. 06, 2026

Executive Summary: Here are the latest leadership changes in the restaurant industry.

Leadership

CEO Kelli Valade leaves Denny's for Women's Foodservice Forum

 By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 22, 2026

Valade was named CEO and president of the nonprofit less than a week after Denny’s was sold to TriArtisan Capital Advisors and other investors.

Leadership

Dave's Hot Chicken, Cava, Huddle House and others bolster their executive teams

By Restaurant Business Staff on Jan. 20, 2026

Executive Summary: Here are the latest leadership changes in the restaurant industry.

Marketing

Chris Brandt, Chipotle president and chief brand officer, steps down

By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 12, 2026

After nearly eight years with the fast-casual chain, Brandt is departing immediately. His role will be filled by Stephanie Perdue as interim chief marketing officer. In addition, Chief Legal Officer Roger Theodoredis also stepped down.

Operations

Salad and Go to shutter all remaining units in Texas and Oklahoma

By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 07, 2026

The latest wave of closures includes 32 restaurants and follows 41 that closed last year, leaving the chain with 70 outlets in Arizona and Nevada, less than half of the count at the end of 2024.

Leadership

Former Scooter's Coffee exec John Owen named CEO of Blaze Pizza

By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 06, 2026

With career roots that include McDonald's and Subway, Owen brings deep franchising experience to the fast-casual pizza brand. He replaces Beto Guajardo at the helm.

Leadership

Jim Bitticks named CEO of Dave's Hot Chicken

By Lisa Jennings on Jan. 05, 2026

Former CEO Bill Phelps is moving to an executive chairman role with the fast-casual brand, as parent Roark Capital plots continued expansion.

Leadership

Fat Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn named CEO of Twin Peaks

By Joe Guszkowski on Jan. 02, 2026

The Twin Peaks chairman replaces Kim Boerema, who was let go after just six months on the job. The breastaurant chain has struggled since its IPO last January.

Food

Luminaries we lost in 2025

By Patricia Cobe on Dec. 18, 2025

This year brought the deaths of industry icons including Anne Burrell, Charles Phan and Shelly Fireman.

Leadership

Sweetgreen co-founder Nathaniel Ru to step down

By Lisa Jennings on Dec. 17, 2025

After a challenging year, one of the three leaders who founded the fast-casual chain in 2007 will retire on Jan. 1, though he remains on the board.

  • Page 1