Arby's(R) New CEO Builds World-Class Team of Foodservice Experts
August 02 2004 - 9:00AM
PR Newswire (US)
Arby's(R) New CEO Builds World-Class Team of Foodservice Experts
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Aug. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Arby's LLC, President
and CEO Doug Benham has completed the building of his executive
team, which will steer the development of Arby's key brand
initiatives focusing on menu innovation, system alignment and unit
growth. Building this experienced, world-class team has been a
priority for Benham, a 15-year Arby's franchise veteran, since his
appointment as president and CEO of Arby's LLC in January 2004.
"The executive team, comprised of industry veterans with proven
results, brings the kind of experience and focus to help Arby's
achieve its aggressive short- and long-term brand goals," Benham
said. "This team has expertise in product innovation, franchise
system management and unit growth strategies to make us more
convenient to our customers. The expansions to the Market Fresh(R)
line of sandwiches, salads and wraps introduced this year are
indicative of the kind of forward-thinking this team brings to the
Arby's brand." Leading restaurant growth and franchise system
management will be Jordan Krolick, senior vice president of
business development. Krolick, who has experience with McDonald's
in both new venture development, and mergers and acquisitions will
work closely with Arby's existing franchisees on new unit expansion
and also will focus on bringing new franchisees into the Arby's
system. Todd Weyhrich, CPA, senior vice president of finance and
chief financial officer, will lead Arby's financial team. Most
recently with Sports Authority, Weyhrich has more than 20 years of
retail and financial management expertise including a breadth of
responsibilities in the financial planning and operations
functions. The aggressive new menu and product development
initiatives will be led by Jeff Blackmun, vice president of product
development, who returns to the Arby's system in this new
senior-level position after working briefly with Garden Fresh
Restaurant Corp. Blackmun and his team will work closely with Keith
Gordon, vice president of brand development, who came to the Arby's
system in 2001 from Coca-Cola. Gordon will oversee the strategic
positioning for the portfolio of Arby's LLC brands as well as
international and domestic restaurant marketing. Mike Welch, senior
vice president of operations, with experience from Wendy's and
Checkers, oversees the Arby's system restaurant operations. Welch
is responsible for directing the operating needs of the chain's
franchisees and their restaurants including training and operations
services. Curtis Gimson, senior vice president and general counsel,
has been with Arby's parent company and affiliates for the past 20
years, and will continue to serve as Arby's chief legal counsel.
His responsibilities expanded this year to include the human
resources and audit departments. Debbie Pike, president and chief
marketing officer for AFA Service Corporation, works closely with
Benham's executive team in leading the strategic positioning of
Arby's national marketing programs as well as the development of
the associated advertising and merchandising that support the
Arby's brand. Pike has been in the Arby's system for more than 20
years, most recently as senior vice president of marketing for RTM,
Arby's largest franchisee. "In our focus toward system alignment to
deliver the power of the Arby's brand, we will collaborate with
AFA, ARCOP (the purchasing cooperative for the Arby's system) and
our franchisees to ensure consistent delivery of the Arby's brand
to customers everywhere," said Benham. Arby's LLC is an innovative
restaurant company, bringing consumers fresh and unique tasting
food, which provides growth opportunities for our both existing and
new franchisees. As of Aug. 1, 2004, Arby's services more than
3,450 franchised restaurants in 48 states and five countries with
system wide sales of over $2.7 billion. Arby's is a subsidiary of
Triarc Companies, Inc. (NYSE: TRY; TRY.B). Arby's LLC also services
the Pasta Connection(R) and T.J. Cinnamons(R) brands. Learn more
about Arby's unique tastes and franchising opportunities at
http://www.arbys.com/ . DATASOURCE: Arby's LLC CONTACT: Barbara
Schwartzman of Arby's, LLC, +1-954-351-5106, or ; or Brooke Wilson
of Weber Shandwick Worldwide, +1-404-266-7572, or Web site:
http://www.arbys.com/
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