Marco’s Pizza, Capriotti’s add marketing execs

Executive Summary: Marco’s Pizza and Capriotti’s add marketing executives. And in other restaurant leadership news of the week, Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza named a new president and executive team.

Marco’s Pizza has hired a trio of new marketing executives. The Toledo, Ohio-based chain named Ben Halliwell its SVP of digital marketing, Tanisha Chea as VP of brand marketing, and Kathleen Kennedy as director of culinary innovation. They will work under CMO Denise Lauer, who was hired last June.

Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop has named Kim Lewis the chain’s first chief marketing officer. She has more than 15 years in the retail industry and spent more than six with Sonic Drive-Ins, where she held various roles in digital strategy, marketing communications and branding.

Redberry Restaurants, Jersey Mike’s newly named area developer for Canada, has appointed the executive team that will manage the U.S. sandwich chain’s expansion north of the border.

Paul Pascal, an alumnus of the Bridgeport and Second Cup Coffee operations, has been hired as Redberry’s director of operations for the operation, which has committed to opening 300 Jersey Mike’s stores in Canada over the next decade. His resume also lists a past position with East Side Mario’s, a Canadian chain that eventually pushed into the U.S.

Marketing for the restaurants will be overseen by fast-food veteran Stephen Scarrow, who joins Redberry as senior marketing manager.

Additional appointments include Darryl McMaster, as a district manager for Kitchener and London, Ontario; Kim Birns, training manager; and Jack Belardi, real estate manager.

Redberry said it intends to operate Jersey Mike’s units in addition to sub-franchising them to other local operators. It currently owns and operates 185 restaurants in Canada, including franchises of Burger King and Taco Bell.

Andrew Marsallohas been appointed as the new director of real estate for the 80-unit Just Salad, based in New York City, which is accelerating expansion. Before joining the company, Marsallo led real estate expansion for brands that include Shake Shack and Pret A Manger.

Brixx Wood-Fired Pizza and Craft Bar named a new president and leadership team this week. Scott Isaacs was promoted to president after serving as SVP of operations for the 20-unit chain since June 2021. Isaacs previously spent time at Darden and Romacorp. Charlotte-based Brixx also named Rocky Tradd as VP of sales and development, Bill Edwards as VP of finance and Richard Shinault as VP of culinary and purchasing. Tradd joins the brand from Twin Peaks, while Edwards and Shinault were promoted from within.

Andrew DiMatteo is the new operations manager of Cannoli Kitchen Pizza, where he will serve on the leadership team and spearhead franchisee training, along with overseeing operations. The brand has scheduled its first training school in May, offering seven weeks of learning. He comes to Cannoli from an unidentified privately held Italian restaurant brand, where he was vice president of operations.