Monster Energy veteran joins Cava C-suite
Cava has added a marketing veteran to its C-suite as it continues to expand its footprint of locations nationwide.
The fast-casual Mediterranean chain, which recently celebrated the opening of its 500th store, has named John Ludeke as chief marketing officer, effective Oct. 12. Cava says Ludeke will lead its marketing organization and “partner closely” with key functions to strengthen brand differentiation, deepen guest loyalty and engagement, advance digital experiences and more.
Most recently, Ludeke served as chief brand officer at personal care brand Dr. Squatch, where he led global brand, creative, brand and retail media, social, public relations, retail marketing, partnerships and marketing strategy for nine months. He spent a total of more than four and a half years with the brand, holding several marketing-related roles.
“John is a proven builder of culturally relevant consumer brands and a thoughtful, passionate leader who knows how to turn brand belief into business momentum,” said Brett Schulman, co-founder and CEO of Cava. “One of the things that stands out about John is his ability to quickly understand the essence of a consumer brand and translate it into a meaningful marketing strategy that is relevant, distinctive and true to the brand.”
Prior to Dr. Squatch, Ludeke spent more than 11 years in various roles at Monster Energy. Based in Shanghai and Seoul for more than six years, he led marketing across the Asia-Pacific region, including Japan, Korea, China, India and Vietnam. As a senior global marketing leader, he also helped develop campaigns and partnerships with global brands including Adidas, Ford, Activision, Tencent, Sony and DJI.
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“Cava has built something truly special: a brand rooted in great food, warm hospitality and a clear point of view on how food should make people feel,” said Ludeke. “The company has tremendous momentum and a powerful opportunity to shape the future of the industry. I’m excited to join this team, learn from the team who has built Cava and help bring Cava’s Mediterranean spirit to even more guests and communities.”
Founded in Rockville, Md., Cava went public in 2023. Its fully-customizable menu includes 38 ingredients, creating over 17 billion combinations for guests to enjoy through bowls, pitas, chips, dips, juices and dressings.
