Illustration by Restaurant Business staff.
Tabassum Zalotrawala has been promoted to Senior Vice President, global restaurant development and design for McDonald’s. Zalotrawala, who joined the company in 2023 as U.S. chief development officer, has helped lead McDonald’s USA through its fastest development period in history, including the plan to open 1,000 new restaurants by 2027. She will guide global restaurant development and design while continuing to oversee U.S. Restaurant Development until a successor is named.
Golden Corral has hired Trona Balkissoon as its new CFO. She joined the buffet chain in April as SVP of finance. Before that, she spent more than 25 years with Nestle, including six and a half years as CFO of Nestle Professional North America. Balkissoon currently serves on the executive board of the Women’s Foodservice Forum and is on the board of trustees for the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. At Golden Corral, she replaces CFO Jim Laverty, who retired.
Trona Balkissoon | Photo courtesy of Golden Corral.
The six-unit Chili Shack has expanded its leadership team with Elizabeth Orona as chief operating officer. She will oversee employees, operational growth, innovation and franchise scalability. She served previously as general manager of several Chili Shack units in the Denver area, where the brand is based.
Elizabeth Orona. | Photo courtesy of Chili Shack.
Jill Thomas is the new chief marketing officer for Chicken Salad Chick. She previously spent six year at PGA Tour Superstore, where she was senior vice president and chief marketing officer of retail and e-commerce. She has also held marketing roles at Edible Brands, Cinnabon, Bloomin’ Brands, Yum Brands, Disney Parks & Resorts and Publix Super Markets.
Blas Escarcega has been named chief development officer for Bonchon. He is described as a seasoned leader with two decades of development experience. South Korea-based Bonchon has 150 units in the U.S. and nearly 500 worldwide.
16 Handles has made two recent additions to its leadership team.Â
Patti Carr is the new vice president of operations. She was most recently COO at K9 Resorts Luxury Pet Hotel, and she has worked with Krispy Kreme and Mrs. Fields.
Donna Coupe is the new vice president of training. She previously spent 30 years at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, most recently serving as that chain’s vice president of support & training.
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