Finance professionals in Restaurants
Jessica Ling's work on financial strategy for over 120 Lettuce Entertain You locations sets the scale for this restaurant finance group, which also includes CFO titles at MAS Restaurant Group, Agave & Stone Hospitality, STARR Restaurants and Ted's Montana Grill. Pick from them to sanity-check a new-unit forecast, a menu price increase against food and labor costs, or how a multi-brand group reports store-level results.
Professionals to explore
Ben Walsh
LinkedInExperience: Chief Financial Officer and Vice President · MAS Restaurant Group
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President at MAS Restaurant Group since 2021 and CFO there from 2018, Ben Walsh was Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis at California Pizza Kitchen (2016–2018). Dine Brands Global roles covered Applebee's and IHOP: Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (2015–2016) and Director of Development & Business Strategy (2014–2015). Walsh lists M&A and budgeting and forecasting in restaurants.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Chad Gentry
LinkedInExperience: Director, Financial Planning & Analysis · Rackson Restaurants
Chad Gentry is Director, Financial Planning & Analysis at Rackson Restaurants (since 2026), after Senior Manager, Financial Planning & Analysis at HEYDUDE (2023–2026) and Senior Manager, Compensation, Benefits, & G&A Planning at Panera Bread (2022–2023). Reebok roles were Senior Finance Manager (2020–2022) and Senior Financial Analyst (2017–2020). Gentry fits questions on labor and G&A planning at restaurant companies.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Grant Shaw CA(SA)
LinkedInExperience: Commercial Finance Director · PizzaExpress
Grant Shaw CA(SA) has been Commercial Finance Director at PizzaExpress since 2023 and was Head Of Commercial Finance at Côte Brasserie (2021–2023). KFC UK & Ireland roles were Senior Commercial Finance Manager in FP&A, Sales & Marketing (2019–2021) and in Strategic Planning (2018–2019), and Commercial Finance Manager - Operations (2016–2018). Shaw suits questions on commercial strategy, reporting and forecasting.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Jessica Ling
LinkedInExperience: Vice President of Accounting & Finance · Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants
Jessica Ling has held five roles at Lettuce Entertain You Restaurants: Vice President of Accounting & Finance since 2025, Controller & Partner (2023–2025), Assistant Controller (since 2019), Accounting Manager (2015–2019) and Senior Accountant (2009–2015). As Controller, Ling spearheaded financial strategy for over 120 locations, the right call for multi-location reporting and balance sheet review.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Kelly Knybel
LinkedInExperience: Chief Financial Officer · Agave & Stone Hospitality
Agave & Stone Hospitality has had Kelly Knybel as Chief Financial Officer since 2024. Before the CFO role came Vice President, Treasurer and Financial Planning & Analysis at Jack in the Box (2022–2024), Vice President of FP&A at Conn's HomePlus (2020–2022), Senior Director Finance at Taco Bell (2019–2020) and Director, Investor Relations at Yum! Brands (2017–2019). A fit for treasury and planning questions at restaurant brands.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Nancy Furr CPA CGMA
LinkedInExperience: Chief Financial Officer · STARR Restaurants
Ted's Montana Grill (2011–2024) and STARR Restaurants (2024–2026) both had Nancy Furr CPA CGMA as Chief Financial Officer, and Furr became CFO at Anthony & Sylvan Pools in 2026. Other roles were Assistant Controller at Reynolds Lake Oconee (2007–2011) and Accounting Manager at Rita Restaurant Corp. (2005–2007). Furr describes CFO work at multi-unit organizations and moving finance toward technology and data.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Parisa Mousavi
LinkedInExperience: Finance Director · Megan's Restaurants
Finance Director at Megan's Restaurants since 2026, Parisa Mousavi was Group Financial Controller at Nightcap (2024–2025). D&D London roles were Group Head of Finance (2019–2023), Commercial Finance Manager (2017–2019) and Senior Commercial Accountant (2015–2017). Mousavi mentions PE-backed, PLC and multi-entity businesses, a fit for group finance questions at a restaurant operator.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Rikky Salazar
LinkedInExperience: Former Financial Planning and Analysis Manager · Willie's Restaurants
Rikky Salazar has been Director of Financial Planning and Analysis at Gordon Ramsay North America since 2023. At Willie's Restaurants the roles were Financial Planning and Analysis Manager (2022–2023), Senior Financial Analyst (2020–2022) and Financial Analyst (2016–2020). Salazar can speak to restaurant FP&A at two groups, from analyst work to a director role.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Stephen Neudegg
LinkedInExperience: Finance Director · Dishoom
Dishoom's Finance Director since 2018 is Stephen Neudegg. Casual Dining Group roles were Commercial Finance Director (2018), Finance Director, las iguanas, La Tasca, Concessions and Franchising (2017–2018) and Finance Director - Las Iguanas, La Tasca and La Vina (2016–2017), with Senior Manager Advisory Services at PwC (2013–2015). Neudegg can compare finance at Dishoom with the brand finance director roles for Las Iguanas, La Tasca and La Vina at Casual Dining Group.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Tyler Boudart
LinkedInExperience: Director of Finance and Analytics · Levy Restaurants
At Levy Restaurants, Tyler Boudart is Director of Finance and Analytics (since 2026), at the United Center, after Assistant Director of Finance and Analytics there (2022–2026). Other roles include Controller at Father & Son Restaurants and Nation Frozen Pizza (2017–2022) and Senior Data Analyst at Burson-Marsteller (2016–2017). Boudart is a fit for finance and analytics questions in restaurant operations at Levy Restaurants.
Is this you? Claim your profile and get paid for calls.
Choose the right perspective
Ben Walsh, Kelly Knybel and Nancy Furr CPA CGMA hold or held the CFO titles and fit questions on financing, growth plans and board reporting. For unit budgets and forecasting, Rikky Salazar, Chad Gentry and Tyler Boudart sit in FP&A and analytics, while Grant Shaw CA(SA), Parisa Mousavi and Stephen Neudegg cover commercial and group finance at PizzaExpress, Megan's Restaurants and Dishoom. Jessica Ling is the one for controller and accounting questions across many locations.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How do you forecast first-year sales and payback for a new restaurant location, and how often do those forecasts miss?
- 02When food and labor costs rise together, how do you decide between a menu price increase, smaller portions and margin you simply absorb?
- 03Which weekly store-level numbers do you put in front of operators, and which ones actually change what they do?
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.