Leadership

17-concept Fat Brands hires its first-ever chief growth officer

Jeremy Theisen joins the Twin Peaks and Fazoli's parent after two decades of expanding startups.
Jeremy Theisen. | Photograph courtesy of Fat Brands

The parent company of Twin Peaks, Johnny Rockets and 15 other restaurant brands has hired its first-ever chief growth officer, technology veteran Jeremy Theisen.

A 20-year veteran of building startup companies, Theisen will be responsible for expanding the whole portfolio of Fat Brands, the company said. That effort will extend to recruiting franchisees who are new to Fat Brands’ now-extensive holdings, as well as encouraging current licensees to diversify into other chains within the fold.

Before joining Fat Brands, Theisen was chief revenue officer for PathSpot Technologies, a company that uses technology to promote handwashing by restaurant employees.

Earlier, he was chief sales officer for Punchh, a loyalty management system.

 “While our acquisition strategy has been a key mechanism for growth, we have also been heavily invested in building out our deep, organic pipeline” Fat Brands CEO Andy Wiederhorn said in a statement. “Jeremy is a great addition to our team to drive this growth forward exponentially in the years to come.”

Fat Brands has been on an acquisition tear in the last few years. Its holdings now include Fatburger, Round Table Pizza, Marble Slab Creamery, Fazoli’s, Great American Cookies, Hot Dog on a Stick, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Native Grill & Wings, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses.

All told, it operates or franchises 2,300 restaurants.

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