A lot of restaurant chains have changed CEOs this year

If you want a sign of change in the restaurant industry, just look at what’s happening at the top.

The hiring of Brian Niccol at Starbucks is a sign of the massive change taking place in the corner office. Several companies, including some of the industry’s biggest chains, have changed chief executives.

Here they are.

The former executive with Cooper’s Hawk was named CEO of MOD Pizza in January. She took over for Scott Svenson, the longtime chief executive who moved into an executive chair position.

It would be one of the shortest tenures in history. MOD Pizza spent most of the year teetering on the edge of bankruptcy before it was eventually sold to the investment firm Elite Restaurant Group. Scott has since left the company.

The burger chain somewhat surprisingly decided to make a change at the top earlier this year when it ousted Todd Penegor and named former PepsiCo executive Kirk Tanner to be the new CEO.

The former CEO of Outfox Hospitality, who before that had spent a decade with Yum Brands and Taco Bell, was named chief executive of the chicken chain in February.

She took over the brand in March. El Pollo Loco has enjoyed generally strong sales in the months since then.

Metevier had been president and chief operating officer of the pizza chain for five years, when the company’s system sales grew by 83%. He was promoted to CEO in February.

The former chief executive of Wetzel’s Pretzels took the helm of the 130-unit ice cream chain in March. She helped grow the Wetzel’s chain before it was sold to MTY Food Group early last year.

The fast-casual burger chain created something of a musical chairs when it plucked Rob Lynch away from Papa Johns to be its new CEO. Randy Garutti, who had been the only CEO in Shake Shack’s history, left late last year.

Neary, a longtime industry executive who was a former brand president of Auntie Anne’s, was named CEO of the fast-food taco chain in March.

Jonathan Tibus was named CEO of the struggling seafood chain in March. In reality, Tibus is a restructuring expert hired to guide a chain through tough times, including a bankruptcy filing, which is exactly what happened here.

The former chief executive of Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux took over a new restaurant group featuring three concepts owned by the private-equity firm Hargett Hunter: Trudy’s Authentic Tex-Mex, Cajun Steamer Bar & Grill and Live.Eat.Surf Restaurants.

King, president of the pizza chain, was elevated to CEO in May following the retirement of Tom Krouse, who had been chief executive since 2010.

Bakhshandehpour, who had been president of JAG, was named global CEO of the Washington, D.C.-based restaurant group founded by the celebrity chef José Andrés in May.

The former chief operating officer of Portillo’s was hired in June to oversee the rapidly growing taco chain Condados Tacos.

The CFO of the tech-infused mini-golf eatertainment chain was promoted to CEO in July as part of a planned transition. Powell replaces Joe Vrankin, who brought Puttshack to the U.S. in 2021.

The former Wendy’s CEO didn’t spend all that long on the open market. He was named CEO of Papa Johns earlier this month, effective immediately. He took over for Ravi Thanawala, who stepped in as interim CEO after Lynch’s departure.

The CEO of Chipotle was named chief executive of the coffee shop giant earlier this month. He will take over on Sept. 9. He replaced Laxman Narasimhan, who had been CEO of the chain for 18 months.

Scott Boatwright, Chipotle’s COO, was named interim CEO with Niccol’s departure.

The brothers of the family-owned soup dumpling concept were named co-CEOs of the chain’s North America division. The brand has 180 global locations, including 16 in the U.S.

The owner of Outback Steakhouse tabbed the chief operating officer of Delta Air Lines to be its new CEO. He will replace Dave Deno, who had spent well over a decade with the Tampa-based casual-dining chain operator.

Haque had been interim CEO of the casual-dining rib chain before the company removed the interim from that title earlier this month. Haque had been its outside general counsel.

The former P.F. Chang’s chief executive becomes the third CEO of the seafood chain this year. Red Lobster is being sold to the investment group Fortress. Adamolekun has a background in investment banking.

Rian McCartan, who had been CEO of Swig, left the company in March and was replaced on an interim basis by Alex Dunn, managing partner of the chain’s owner, The Larry Miller Co.

Frances Allen in April stepped down as CEO of Checkers and Rally’s.