Leadership

Dunn Brothers Coffee and Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux name new executives

Executive Summary: A roundup of high-level hirings and promotions in the restaurant business includes changes for Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream.
Kendall Ware, Josh Spiller and Scott Harvey.
Kendall Ware, Josh Spiller and Scott Harvey. | Photos courtesy of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, Dunn Brothers Coffee and Happy Joe's Pizza.

Executive Summary

Scott Harvey has been named president of Dunn Brothers Coffee. He served previously as president and CEO of Golden Krust Caribbean Bakery, growing that brand to more than 100 units along with growing that brand’s consumer packaged goods business in retail stores. Harvey has also served as president and COO of Black Rifle Coffee, and his resume includes stints with Nathan’s Famous and Einstein Noah Restaurant Group. At Dunn Brothers, Harvey is tasked with franchise development for the coffee brand and building a smaller-footprint prototype with a focus on drive-thru.

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux hired Kendall Ware as COO. Ware was most recently COO of In-Shape Health Clubs and has also held a variety of leadership roles at restaurant franchises, including Cinnabon and Carvel, Orange Leaf Frozen Yogurt,Cicis Pizza and Genghis Grill. He’s the first hire under new Walk-On’s CEO Chris Dawson.

Happy Joe’s Pizza and Ice Cream named several new executives this week. The pizza chain appointed Josh Spiller director of marketing, Kristel Ersan director of community and public relations and Jenny Culp to the role of director of purchasing and supply chain. Happy Joe’s also named Ashley Balluff director of training and culinary, Judy McGill district coach, Chris Anschutz Franchise Business consultant and Stephanie Kieffer to the role of assistant controller.

Papa Johns has appointed Patrick Coelho to the new role of SVP of development. In the new role, Coelho will oversee North American restaurant real estate development, advance business development goals and collaborate with senior leadership. Coelho joins the pizza chain with over a decade of experience in managing business functions. Most recently he developed an international expansion strategy for Scooter’s Coffee. Before that, he worked with Restaurant Brands International for eight years.

Uber CFO Nelson Chai is leaving the company in January after five years there. Chai helped guide Uber through its 2019 IPO and through the pandemic. The company is searching for his replacement.

Drive-thru automation company Presto has promoted Xavier Casanova to CEO. Casanova joined Presto last year as chief product officer and was then promoted to chief operating officer. He was previously an entrepreneur who founded several tech startups. He replaces interim CEO Krishna Gupta, who will return to Presto’s board.

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