The company that owns Friendly's and a group of juice and salad chains has hired Carissa DeSantis as its new chief technology officer.
DeSantis was most recently chief information officer for Dickey's Barbecue Pit, where she spent about two years directing the chain's tech and digital efforts including an aggressive push into ghost kitchens.
At Jamco Interests, she will oversee tech and digital across the company's multiple concepts that include the Friendly's family-dining chain as well as Red Mango, Orange Leaf, Souper Salad, Smoothie Factory and Red Brick Pizza—a group known as the Brix Brands.
Carissa DeSantis / Photograph courtesy of Jamco Interests
DeSantis has more than 15 years of tech and operations experience. Before Dickey's, she spent six years at TGI Fridays, where she rose to director of IT restaurant solutions.
"I look forward to strengthening the technology capabilities across these great brands," DeSantis said in a statement. "We are poised to bring technology and innovation to the forefront as we continue to serve all our loyal guests each and every day."
Jamco is part of TriArtisan TGIF Partners, the group that own TGI Fridays. It's also the majority stakeholder of Amici Partners, which acquired Friendly's in December 2020, and Brix Holdings, which operates the Brix Brands.
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