Women in Restaurant Leadership

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Restaurant Technologies Promotes Alissa Partee to CEO

Following an extensive multiyear succession planning process, Restaurant Technologies’ (RTI) Board of Directors has unanimously appointed current Chief Operations Officer (COO) Alissa Partee as President and CEO, effective July 1, 2026, upon the retirement of current Chairman, President, and CEO Jeff Kiesel.    Partee joined RTI in 2020 as Chief People Officer (CPO), where she led the company’s human resources strategy […]

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Fast Casual, News, Women in Restaurant Leadership

Sweetgreen Appoints Cindy Olsen SVP, Chief Strategy Officer

Sweetgreen announced the appointment of Cindy Olsen as the Company’s SVP, Chief Strategy Officer, a newly created role reporting to Jonathan Neman, Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. Olsen will play a critical role in accelerating the Sweet Growth Transformation Plan by translating Sweetgreen’s strategic priorities into long-term value creation. “Cindy is known for her ability […]

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Fast Casual, Franchising, Growth, News, Story, Women in Restaurant Leadership

Fluffy Fluffy Cafe Eyes 300 U.S. Locations without Sacrificing Guest Experience

Fluffy Fluffy Cafe has a growth story to write, but it won’t be defined by speed. Instead, the Japanese souffle pancake concept is betting on operational discipline, infrastructure, and consistency as it works toward an ambitious target of 300 U.S. locations by 2030. The brand has 16 domestic locations and more than 70 globally in […]

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Fast Casual, Marketing & Promotions, News, Story, Sustainability, Women in Restaurant Leadership

Beyond the Farm: Sweetgreen’s Commitment to Women in Agriculture

The 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture reported that in the United States, there are 1.2 million female producers, accounting for 36 percent of the country’s agricultural production and generating $222 billion in sales. Globally, women account for about 43 percent of the agricultural labor force. Despite this significant contribution, their work often remains undercounted, underrepresented, […]

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Fast Casual, Marketing & Promotions, News, Women in Restaurant Leadership

Cousins Subs Promotes Maja Gettrust to VP of Marketing

Cousins Subs announced the promotion of Maja Gettrust to vice president of marketing. Gettrust joined Cousins Subs in 2023 as creative manager and quickly elevated the brand’s creative direction, leading a refresh of core assets and helped sharpen the company’s visual identity shortly after her arrival. With more than a decade of experience in retail and […]

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Emerging Concepts, Fast Casual, Finance, News, Story, Women in Restaurant Leadership

Stefanie Lee Wants to Build Starbird’s Future

Starbird just announced Stefanie Lee as its newest CFO— and she is ready to build out the infrastructure to fuel the brand’s growth as it expands beyond its California home market.  Lee spent 18 years building financial infrastructure at massive brands like Dine Brands, Krispy Kreme, and TITLE Boxing Club. Now she’s coming back home […]

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Fast Casual, Marketing & Promotions, News, Sandwiches, Story, Technology, Women in Restaurant Leadership

This Restaurant Executive Built Her Own AI Bot—Here’s Why

Kim Lewis didn’t follow the typical Silicon Valley tech trajectory. As chief marketing and technology officer at Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop, she’s pioneering digital solutions in quick-service restaurants—from early e-commerce and mobile ordering to custom AI tools trained on her own business instincts.  Throughout her career, Lewis has championed women in tech roles within QSR and […]

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Fast Casual, Finance, News, Women in Restaurant Leadership

Shake Shack Appoints Michelle Hook Chief Financial Officer

Shake Shack announced the appointment of Michelle Hook as the Company’s Chief Financial Officer, effective May 11, 2026. Hook joins Shake Shack’s executive leadership team and will be responsible for leading financial operations across the Company, including accounting and treasury, financial planning and analysis, tax, investor relations and external reporting. Hook brings more than two […]

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Fast Casual, News, Story, Women in Restaurant Leadership

How Doinita Leahu is Transforming Vicious Biscuit’s Culture

Working in a large banking organization in Romania taught Doinita Leahu that leadership wasn’t just about position, but rather contribution. Although she was just starting her career, she felt her natural inclination to training and development take root—whether it was explaining the art of financing or how invoices were mapped in a system, she discovered […]

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Employee Management, Fast Casual, Finance, News, Women in Restaurant Leadership

Starbird Names Stefanie Lee CFO

Starbird, the San Francisco-based chicken concept, has appointed Stefanie Lee as chief financial officer. The hire adds a seasoned financial executive to a leadership team that is rapidly building out as the brand continues its national expansion. The appointment follows a series of momentum-building moves for Starbird, including the recent appointment of Greg Levin as chief […]

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