Chicken Salad Chick names new development chief
Chicken Salad Chick is continuing to bolster its C-suite as it plans new openings.
The fast-casual chicken salad chain has named Brian Lindley as chief development officer. In the role, he will lead Chicken Salad Chick's franchise development strategy, leveraging his extensive background in real estate, multi-unit growth and restaurant franchising to support expansion goals.
Lindley most recently served as the VP of development for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, a role he held for more than three years. Prior to that, he spent more than a decade at Chick-fil-A, most recently serving as the executive director of real estate.
In March, Chicken Salad Chick named Jill Thomas to the role of chief marketing officer. She joined the restaurant chain from golf retailer PGA Tour Superstore, where she spent more than six years as senior VP and chief marketing officer of retail and e-commerce.
"Brian's proven track record in franchise development and real estate, combined with his passion for building strong relationships with franchise owners, made him a great addition to our leadership team," said Scott Deviney, CEO and president of Chicken Salad Chick. "As we expand into new states and continue growing our footprint nationwide, Brian's strategic mindset and disciplined approach to development will be instrumental in ensuring we grow with the right partners, in the right locations."
As chief development officer, Lindley will focus on strengthening the brand's franchise pipeline, enhancing development processes and unlocking new opportunities in high-growth regions including the Midwest, Northeast and Western U.S. The chain added that he will also spearhead Chicken Salad Chick's efforts to optimize restaurant formats to reduce space requirements, improve efficiency and lower occupancy costs, while expanding flexibility in site selection across retail spaces and non-traditional venues.
Chicken Salad Chick plans to enter multiple new states this year, including Minnesota, Pennsylvania, Utah and West Virginia.
[READ MORE: Chicken Salad Chick plots Nevada debut amid ongoing expansion]
"I'm incredibly grateful to join a brand with so much heart and such a strong foundation," said Lindley. "Driven by purpose and community impact, Chicken Salad Chick has built a truly special bond with both guests and franchise owners. I'm excited to help bring this unique dining experience to new markets across the country, while staying disciplined in how we grow, partnering with the right franchise owners and selecting the best locations to set them up for success.”
Founded in 2008 in Auburn, Ala., Chicken Salad Chick operates more than 330 restaurants in 22 states. The chain is known for its dozen-plus varieties of made-from-scratch chicken salad flavors, side salads, soups, signature sandwiches and desserts.
