10 restaurant unit economics experts

Experience: Restaurant Profitability Coach · CKE Restaurants, Inc.

Restaurant Profitability Coach at CKE Restaurants, Inc. since 2016; the profile says he worked with seven restaurants that were losing $40,000 a period and raised profits to $17,000 over plan. He was also Franchise Business Consultant (2010–2016) and Training Consultant (2004–2010) at CKE Restaurants, Inc., and Regional VP at Hardees Restaurants (2020–2022).

Experience: Director Finance - Development · First Watch Restaurants

Director Finance - Development at First Watch Restaurants since 2024; the profile says he partners with the Chief Development Officer and SVP Finance and develops and maintains new site models including ROI analysis. Other First Watch roles include Director Finance - Treasury Development (2023) and Director of Financial Planning & Analysis (2022–2023), and he was Senior Manager - Financial Planning & Analysis at Publix Super Markets (2014–2022).

Experience: Senior Director, New Restaurant Openings · CAVA

Senior Director, New Restaurant Openings at CAVA since December 2024. He was Director, Restaurant Growth and Performance (2022) and Manager, Restaurant Strategy and Performance (2020–2022) at Whataburger. The profile says he led a Restaurant Growth Center team delivering performance improvement for new unit openings, new market entries and existing units with potential to grow sales and profit.

Experience: Financial Director - Restaurant Development · McDonald's

Senior Director of Strategic Planning - US Restaurnat Development at McDonald's since 2023; other McDonald's rows include Director of Strategy and Analytics - Restaurant Development (2011–2024) and Financial Director - Restaurant Development (2001–2011). The profile lists market planning tools to identify new store opportunities and reinvestment, better capital spending through forecasting, and profitability improvements through analysis and plan review.

Experience: Senior Director of Restaurant Finance & Operational Performance · CAVA

Senior Director of Restaurant Finance & Operational Performance at CAVA since January 2026, and Senior Director of Restaurant Insights & Analytics at CAVA from 2022 to 2026. At Taco Bell he was Business Strategy & Analytics Leader (2018–2022) and Manager - Operations Analytics (2014–2016). The profile says he specializes in financial management and strategic planning to drive operational efficiency and business growth.

Experience: VP Development Strategy and Analytics · Wingstop Restaurants Inc.

Former VP Development Strategy and Analytics at Wingstop Restaurants Inc. (2024–2025), and VP, COE Insights & Analytics there since 2026. Other Wingstop roles include Sr. Director, Strategic Finance (2023–2024) and Director of FP&A (2021–2023). The profile says she owned enterprise development and growth strategy, including market planning, restaurant economics and capital deployment, and directed $500M in growth capital.

Experience: Franchise Profitability, Burger King · Restaurant Brands International

Worked in Franchise Profitability, Burger King at Restaurant Brands International (2022–2025), where the profile says he spearheaded financial and operational profitability initiatives across North America. Other Restaurant Brands International rows are Real Estate Investments, Popeyes (2025) and Development & Capital Investments, Popeyes (since 2026).

Experience: Chief Executive Officer, Yum Brands (Store Expansion, Portfolio Optimization, Talent Bench Strength) · Devyani International Limited

Former Chief Executive Officer, Yum Brands (Store Expansion, Portfolio Optimization, Talent Bench Strength) at Devyani International Limited (2024–2026) and Chief Executive Officer, Pizza Hut India there (2022–2023); VP Managing Director, India at Wingstop Restaurants Inc. since 2026. The profile says he builds consumer brands where growth is driven by unit economics, and its headline cites KFC Indonesia's best-ever turnaround.

Experience: Head of Strategy & Franchise Profitability Acting CFO · Yum! Brands

Former Head of Strategy & Franchise Profitability Acting CFO at Yum! Brands (2017–2018); the profile says the KFC Asia role covered the region's strategic roadmap, franchise margin improvement and the regional supply chain. Other rows include Director, Financial Planning KFC Asia (2015–2017), General Manager Asia Pacific & Middle East, Texas Chicken at Church's Texas Chicken (2018–2021) and Chief Growth Officer APAC at Taco Bell (2024–2026).

Experience: Senior Vice President Operations Progressive Operations Leadership · RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc.

Senior Vice President Operations Progressive Operations Leadership at RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. since 2024; the profile says he is accountable for system performance, franchisee profitability, operational governance and margin protection across Pizza Inn and Pie Five. Other RAVE roles include Interim Head of Finance (2023–2024) and Director, Strategy, FP&A and Business Analysis (2022–2023).