Tropical Smoothie Cafe names new development chief
A leading smoothie chain is adding a new face to its C-suite as it continues to expand its footprint.
Tropical Smoothie Cafe has named Joe Sieve as its new chief development & growth officer. He joined the company on July 27 in preparation for the planned retirement of longtime development leader, Cheryl Fletcher, at the end of August.
Most recently, Sieve served as chief operations & global development officer at pizza giant Papa Johns, where he helped lead growth across a global system of more than 6,000 restaurants in more than 50 countries and territories. He previously served as the VP of development at Inspire Brands, the parent company of Arby’s, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s and more, for nearly six years.
"Joe is an accomplished leader with deep experience helping brands grow while maintaining a strong focus on operational excellence and franchisee success," said Max Wetzel, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. "As we build on our momentum, Joe's expertise and collaborative leadership style make him the right person to help guide our next chapter of growth."
In the C-suite role, Sieve will lead the brand's franchise development strategy and growth initiatives. Tropical Smoothie Cafe recently opened its 1,750th location, and more than 900 locations currently in its development pipeline.
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The brand says Sieve's appointment reflects the brand's “investment in the leadership, development capabilities and franchise support” needed to execute its long-term growth strategy.
"Tropical Smoothie Cafe is a brand with a lot of momentum and a strong franchise network behind it," said Sieve. "It's an honor to join the team and work alongside franchisees to build on this growth, support their continued success and bring Tropical Smoothie Cafe to even more communities across the country."
Founded in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Cafe operates across 44 states.
