COO of foodservice giant Focus Brands to depart

The high-profile president and COO of Focus Brands is stepping down.

Focus Brands, parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli and Schlotzsky's, announced that Kat Cole, COO and president, has decided to leave the company. Cole will continue in her capacity at the company until her departure, which is expected at the end of 2020.

Cole joined Focus Brands in 2010 as the president of Cinnabon where she led the turnaround of the franchise business and growth of the global, multi-channel retail brand to more than $1 billion in global branded product sales. In 2017, she was named COO and president, North America for Focus Brands, where she was involved in various brand management, franchising and licensing operations for the company. 

"Focus Brands has seen a strategic transformation in the ten years Kat has been with the company," said Jim Holthouser, who joined Focus Brands as CEO in February. "In my time as CEO, we've managed through unprecedented times in our industry and Kat's leadership and knowledge have helped us pave the way for an exciting 2021 and beyond. She has built a deep bench of diverse leaders and has helped to position the company and its brands for continued future growth. I am grateful for her partnership and wish her the best as she moves to this next chapter." 

In the immediate future, Cole will continue her extensive board and advisory work in various industries, including wellness and food technology, while also continuing her speaking, mentoring, start-up investing and community impact work.

Focus Brands is the franchisor and operator of more than 6,000 restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops and bakeries in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and over 50 foreign countries under the brand names Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli, and Schlotzsky's, as well as Seattle's Best Coffee.