---
title: "Zaxby’s Announces Executive Appointments"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/0046b50e-8b2f-40c0-85bf-c7cbff56c943
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20220524_zaxbys_announces_executive_appointments.html
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
published: 2022-05-24T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:07:44.173Z
image: https://imgs.franchising.com/brands/social/zaxbys.jpg
---

# Zaxby’s Announces Executive Appointments

**TL;DR:** Zaxby's has announced executive appointments, hiring Mike Mettler as chief development officer and elevating Mike Nettles to a long-term position. Mettler brings experience from Orangetheory Fitness, Dairy Queen, and Domino's Pizza, while Nettles has a background in retail and hospitality from Papa John's and Panera Bread.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2022-05-24. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20220524_zaxbys_announces_executive_appointments.html).*

## Story

“These are seasoned executives who have achieved success within some of the most recognizable brands in our industry,” said Bernard Acoca, CEO. “I am confident that both are the right people to move our brand into the next phase.”

Mike Mettler brings with him significant experience and expertise in the areas of franchise recruitment and development. He joins Zaxby’s from Orangetheory Fitness where he has spent the past four years leading franchise development, serving as chief development officer for the last three. Prior roles include seven years in senior franchise development for Dairy Queen and four years for Domino’s Pizza.

“Zaxby’s is focused on DMA prioritization, developing a more robust recruitment platform and delivering options that provide flexibility while maximizing profitability,” Acoca said. “Mike Mettler will guide these targets, cultivate relationships and collaborate with our franchisees to continue scaling the brand.”

“Franchising growth requires four things,” said Mettler. “A strong business model, a solid culture, passionate franchise owners and strategic areas to develop - Zaxby's has them all.”

In addition, former interim Chief Digital and Technology Officer Mike Nettles will move into the position long term. Nettles joined the brand in 2021 with a focus on developing a strong digital infrastructure that improves guest experience. He is leading the development and design of the new mobile app, loyalty program and ecommerce platform that are set to launch in summer 2022.

“Mike Nettles has made incredible strides in advancing our efforts to provide guests with a personalized digital experience,” Acoca said. “We are thrilled to welcome him as a long-term addition to our executive leadership team and look forward to fully transforming the Zaxby's guest experience under his leadership.”

Prior to Zaxby’s, Nettles spent thirty years in the retail and hospitality sectors, holding leadership positions at Papa John’s and Panera Bread where he was responsible for leading the technical design, development and implementation of digital and in-store assets.

“We are working to remove all the friction between our guests and their cravings to the point where the tech is totally transparent and entirely under their control,” said Nettles.

Zaxbys is a fast-growing QSR brand specializing in the highest quality chicken and sides. Established in 1990 in Statesboro, Georgia, the company pioneered the concept of serving chicken tenders as an entrée, a novel idea at the time.

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- franchise development (topic)
- Domino's (company)
- Papa Johns (company)
- Dairy Queen (company)
- Zaxby's (company)
- Orangetheory Fitness (company)
- Panera Bread (company)
- qsr brand (topic)
- executive appointments (topic)
- Bernard Acoca (person)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20220524_zaxbys_announces_executive_appointments.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/0046b50e-8b2f-40c0-85bf-c7cbff56c943).