Wingstop on Thursday announced the appointment of Donnie Upshaw as its first chief people officer.
Upshaw joined the fast-casual wing chain in 2018 and most recently served as SVP of people.
Wingstop Chief People Officer Donnie Upshaw / Photo courtesy Wingstop
“People are the foundation of our strategy and Donnie has made a tremendous impact on our talent framework and culture, which has propelled us forward with industry-leading growth,” Wingstop CEO Charlie Morrison said in a statement.
In his new role, Upshaw will lead culture and talent management strategy for the brand, with a focus on building and retaining talent, the company said.
He has previously worked to instill “the Wingstop Way,” the chain’s set of cultural values, in employees, while also leading the purchase and full renovation of Wingstop’s Global Support Center in Addison, Texas. The 75,000-square-foot building is fully wind powered and features multiple areas to support collaboration, the chain said.
With an unprecedented labor shortage, a number of restaurant chains have recently been investing in recruitment and retention initiatives.
Earlier this year, Wingstop promoted former CFO Michael Skipworth to president and COO while elevating Alex Kaleida to the top finance post.
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