Nandu Gandhi, Chief Technology Officer, Focus Brands

Global food and beverage franchise group Focus Brands has appointed Nandu Gandhi as Chief Technology Officer to help drive digital traffic and sales across its seven brands. 
 

The company, which operates the Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky's brands, said Gandhi brings a ‘breadth of expertise and forward-thinking leadership’ to Focus Brands as it undergoes a digital transformation across its portfolio.  

Gandhi will be tasked with implementing new technologies and capitalising on Focus Brands’ recent progress in ‘building out capabilities in key areas including data science, digital platforms, loyalty programmes and its tech stack’. 
 

He joins Focus Brands from Digital Transformation Consulting. In a press release Focus Brands said Gandhi's experience working in multi-branded and multi-channel retail and consumer services will help him ‘evolve and improve' the company’s existing technology. 
 

"As we continue to invest and transform our digital and technology capabilities, it is critical to have the right leaders in place. I'm confident that Nandu, along with his team, will make great strides in improving the technology and systems in place to help our brands continue to grow,” said Jim Holthouser, CEO, Focus Brands. 

In January 2023 Focus Brands announced agreements to open more than 50 dual and tri-brand stores – single outlets comprising multiple brands – throughout 2023.   

The following month the company credited increased synergies between its food and beverage brands for driving record system-wide sales of $3.9bn in 2022.