A top Inspire Brands executive is leaving the company
Dan Lynn, the chief commercial and restaurant officer, is leaving the owner of Dunkin’ to take a CEO position with another company
June 4, 2026
Dan Lynn is leaving Inspire Brands, the company confirmed to Nation’s Restaurant News.
Lynn, the company’s chief commercial and restaurant officer, is leaving to take a CEO position with another company. The Atlanta-based Inspire will not fill his position, a spokesman said.
Inspire operates Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic and Jimmy John’s.
Lynn has worked with the company since 2022, coming to Inspire from Zuzu Hospitality, a revenue platform for independent hotels in Asia. He was initially chief commercial officer but in 2023 was given the additional title of chief restaurant officer, overseeing some 2,200 company-owned restaurants in the system.
But the departure comes as Inspire Brands appears set to go public sometime this year.
The company, owned by Roark Capital, has privately filed documents for an initial public offering, which would be the biggest such IPO in restaurant industry history.
Inspire Brands concepts operate more than 33,000 restaurants globally. Those restaurants generate more than $33 billion in system sales. Most of the restaurants are owned by more than 2,700 franchisees.
About the Author
Jonathan Maze
Editor in Chief, Restaurant Business
Restaurant Business Editor-in-Chief Jonathan Maze is a longtime industry journalist who writes about restaurant finance, mergers and acquisitions and the economy, with a particular focus on quick-service restaurants. He writes daily about the factors influencing the operating environment, including labor and food costs and various industry trends such as technology and delivery.
Content Spotlight
The Technomic Top 500: Another tough year for chain restaurants
Top 500 chain restaurant sales slowed again in 2025 as consumers cut back on dining, but sectors like coffee, beverages and snacks and chicken thrived
Featured
Jun 4, 2026
May 28, 2026
Recent News
Content Spotlight
Get to know Rick Cardenas, the Darden CEO who started there as a busser
The executive shares his advice, along with his most-binged TV show, favorite sports team, and most-used app
Source: This story originated with Nation's Restaurant News.
View Original Article →