29 restaurant executives on the move in May, including CEO changes at Wendy’s, Jack in the Box, and Miller’s Ale House

• Executives

From a veteran taking the helm at Wendy’s to the founders of Crumbl stepping back, it was a busy month

June 3, 2026

The month of May was a busy one across restaurant C-suites, with 29 executives coming and going, including CEO changes at five restaurant companies: Wendy’s, Jack in the Box, Miller’s Ale House, Rosa Mexicano, and F1 Arcade.

Marketing was another area of focus, with Caribou Coffee, Playa Bowls, Smashburger, and Church’s Texas Chicken appointing new leaders in that department. Caribou, Playa, and Smashburger also appointed leaders in other areas.

In the finance sector, Portillo’s former CFO got a new job and an interim was appointed at the hot-dog chain. There’s also a new financial chief at Starbird.

Wonder continued building momentum toward an eventual IPO with a new chief technology officer, and the founders of Crumbl announced their intentions to step back as they search for new leaders.

Click through the above slideshow to meet all of the restaurant executives on the move in May.

About the Author

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister

Managing Editor

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister is a managing editor for Informa’s Foodservices Vertical, specifically Nation’s Restaurant News, Restaurant Hospitality, and Foodservice Director.  Leigh Anne works on all of the brands’ special reports, including Nation’s Restaurant News’ annual Top 500 report and Restaurant Hospitality’s Best Cocktails and Best Sandwiches contests. She also manages the group’s digital engagement team, and was the managing editor for Supermarket News until December 2024.

Leigh Anne lives in New York City, but also claims Phoenix, Dallas and Cleveland as hometowns. Leigh Anne holds a bachelor’s degree in print journalism from the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University, where she also studied European history. 

Email Leigh Anne at [email protected] 

Leigh Anne Zinsmeister’s experience: 

• Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)

• Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)

• Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)

• Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)

• Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)

• Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)

Group Managing Editor, Informa’s Foodservices Vertical (Aug. 2021-present)

Group Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (Feb. 2020-Aug. 2021)

Digital Content Manager, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (April 2018-Feb. 2020)

Digital Content Producer, Informa Restaurant and Food Group (June 2016-April 2018)

Community Moderator, Mail Online (March 2014-June 2016)

Wire Editor, Gannett’s Phoenix Design studio (The Arizona Republic, The Reno Gazette-Journal, The Statesman Journal, The Great Falls Tribune, The Visalia Times-Delta, The Tulare Advance Register, The Salinas Californian, The St. George Spectrum, The Desert Sun, The Coloradoan) (Jan. 2012-March 2014)

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