Focus Brands operates Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky's | Photo credit: Focus Brands

Atlanta-based Focus Brands has appointed Brendan Berg as its new Senior Vice President of Operations to lead the franchise group’s restaurant category. 
 

Focus Brands, which operates Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky's, said Berg’s near 40 years' industry experience will prove invaluable in enhancing operational performance and profitability across its global markets. 

Berg will focus on providing efficient operations solutions, increasing unit-level profitability and enhancing the customer experience across Focus Brands’ portfolio. 
 

“As a seasoned executive in the QSR industry, Brendan brings a wealth of knowledge and a track record of success to Focus Brands. We're confident that his ability to lead high-performing teams and achieve operational excellence across our family of brands will play a vital role in our continued successful journey forward,” said Shelley Harris, Restaurant Category President, Focus Brands. 

Berg joins Focus Brands from Church's Texas Chicken where he served as Senior Vice President of US Franchise Operations and Global Operations Services. He previously spent nearly three decades at Burger King coordinating training and field support across Burger King's domestic and international restaurants. 
 

Focus Brands operates 6,400 restaurants, cafés, ice cream shops and bakeries across its portfolio of foodservice brands in the US and over 55 global markets. 

The company has made several leadership appointments this year, most notably former Panera Bread executive Tracey Young as Chief Brand Officer to oversee marketing and operations at Cinnabon.  

Cinnabon currently operates more than 1,600 franchise locations worldwide, primarily in high-traffic venues such as shopping malls, airports and train stations.