THE Jollibee group鈥檚 fast-casual burger brand Smashburger has appointed Denise Nelsen as its chief executive officer (CEO).
Ms. Nelsen was named Smashburger鈥檚 CEO in January, making her the first CEO of the burger brand, Jollibee said in a statement on Thursday.
聽She previously served as senior vice-president of Starbucks鈥 United States operations.
聽鈥淲ith her extensive experience and proven leadership in the food and beverage industry, she is set to propel the Smashburger brand into a new era of growth,鈥 Jollibee group President and CEO Ernesto Tanmantiong said.
聽鈥淗er appointment signifies the Jollibee group鈥檚 commitment to excellence and diversity, and with all her capabilities and energy, we are confident that she will drive success for Smashburger, thereby contributing to the growth of the Jollibee Group as a whole,鈥 he added.
As of end-2023, Smashburger has presence in eight countries. The burger brand has 236 locations, of which 210 are in the US.
聽Smashburger鈥檚 products include burgers, sandwiches, turkey and black bean burgers, salads, fries, and hand-spun shakes.
鈥淎s we embark on various new brand ventures in 2024, I鈥檓 eager to support our continuous efforts to stay at the forefront of taste innovation in the industry, while collaborating with our international expansion teams to bring the joys of Smashburger to more guests worldwide,鈥 Ms. Nelsen said. 聽
Jollibee saw a 16% increase in its 2023 attributable聽net聽income聽to P8.77 billion as the company鈥檚 revenue grew by 15.2% to a record high of P244.11 billion.
聽On Thursday, Jollibee shares rose by 2.32% or P6 to P265 apiece. 鈥 Revin Mikhael D. Ochave
