Leadership

MOD Pizza adds president to its COO’s title

The fast-casual pizza chain has ambitious growth plans.
mod pizza
Photograph courtesy of Mod Pizza

MOD Pizza added the title of president to its COO’s duties, the fast-casual pizza chain announced this week.

John Maguire, who joined the 470-unit chain in 2018, becomes president after the retirement of Paul Twohig.

Maguire previously worked as president and CEO of the parent company of Friendly’s restaurants, president and CEO of Johnny Rockets Group, and EVP and COO of Panera Bread.

“John has made an incredible impact since joining MOD, helping to strengthen day-to-day operations across the system, as well as shape the path for our next phase of growth,” Scott Svenson, MOD co-founder and CEO, said in a statement. “One of John’s best qualities is that he is a people person first, and carries the MOD culture of servant leadership through everything he touches. We feel very lucky to have him as part of the team as we embark on an ambitious path for the future.”

Last May, Seattle-based MOD announced that it had raised another $160 million, bringing the company’s total fundraising to $339 million. The chain, which was founded in 2008, said it planned to grow to 1,000 units over the next five years.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

How Popeyes changed the chicken business

How did a once-struggling, regional bone-in chicken chain overtake KFC, the formerly dominant player in the U.S. market? With a fixation on sandwiches and many more new restaurants.

Financing

Get ready for a summertime value war

The Bottom Line: With more customers opting to eat at home, rather than at restaurants, more fast-food chains will start pushing value this summer.

Food

Inside Chili's quest to craft a value-priced burger that could take on McDonald's

Behind the Menu: How the casual-dining chain smashes expectations with a winning combination of familiarity and price with its new Big Smasher burger.

Trending

More from our partners