Tender Greens on Wednesday named company President Denyelle Bruno the chain’s new CEO, replacing co-founder Erik Oberholtzer, who was named executive chairman.
Bruno moves into the top spot mere months after the longtime retail executive arrived at the chain.
David Dressler, another Tender Greens co-founder, will remain as the Los Angeles-based company’s chief people officer.
“We as a company have only just begun,” Oberholtzer said in a statement. “As we continue to bring Tender Greens to more communities, we could not imagine a better leader than Denyelle. Her experience taking brands of our size to best-in-class companies is without comparison.”
Bruno spent 20 years in retail leadership roles, most recently as president of retail operations at Drybar Holdings.
She has also spent time with Apple, Peet’s Coffee & Tea, Design Within Reach, Macy’s and Purebeauty.
At Apple, she was a member of the team that launched the first 24 Apple Stores. At Peet’s, she was given credit for systemizing the enterprise to improve guest experience.
She takes over a rapidly growing fast-casual chain that finished 2017 with 26 units and $82.7 million in system sales, according to Technomic data. It’s also one of the most innovative concepts in the restaurant industry: The company went cashless earlier this year and boasts Shake Shack founder Danny Meyer among its investors.
“We’re at the right place with the right team to further our movement and make Tender Greens a household name in cities and neighborhoods across the country,” Bruno said in a statement.
In addition to Bruno’s appointment, the company has recently deepened its executive leadership team, hiring former Adidas executive Jack Oh as its vice president of marketing and BCI Realty founder Paul Asher as its vice president of national expansion.
Oberholtzer will remain active in the company, advising on sustainability initiatives, driving food policy issues and culinary development and developing the chain’s network of farmers.
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