Focus Brands, the Atlanta-based operator of Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon and several other concepts, on Monday named Brian Krause its chief development officer, while Tim Muir was appointed the company’s first chief sales officer.
Krause is a franchise veteran of both the quick-service and hotel industries and will be charged with driving “high-quality growth” across the Focus portfolio, which also includes Jamba, Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli and Schlotzsky’s.
Krause had worked with Inspire Brands, where he had been the chief development officer of the sandwich chain Jimmy John’s.
He takes over as CDO from Muir, who first took the position with Focus Brands in 2017 and has now been named chief sales officer, a newly created position. He will focus “specifically on franchise sales and revenue growth.”
“I’m confident Brian’s strength in franchise sales, strategy, policy making and collaboration with be invaluable in driving our brands to further accelerate our growth,” Focus CEO Jim Holthouser said in a statement. “Tim’s success and leadership made him the obvious choice to trailblaze this new, critical function for us.”