---
title: "Jay Spongberg Promoted to President & Chief Operating Officer of WKS Restaurant Group"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/04e46734-73b6-4f65-ace9-d60cca273d24
source: "Franchising.com"
original_url: https://www.franchising.com/news/20260922_jay_spongberg_promoted_to_president__chief_operating_officer_of_wks_restaur.html
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
topics: ["People"]
published: 2026-09-22T12:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T14:43:22.880Z
image: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1568901346375-23c9450c58cd?w=1600&q=80&auto=format&fit=crop
---

# Jay Spongberg Promoted to President & Chief Operating Officer of WKS Restaurant Group

**TL;DR:** Jay Spongberg has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer of WKS Restaurant Group after 26 years with the company. He has held various leadership positions, including COO for the past 16 years, and will continue to lead operations with broader responsibility.

*originally published in Franchising.com on 2026-09-22. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/news/20260922_jay_spongberg_promoted_to_president__chief_operating_officer_of_wks_restaur.html).*

## Story

Jay has been an integral part of WKS for 26 years and has held numerous leadership positions throughout his tenure, including Property Manager, Vice President of Development, and Chief Operating Officer for the past 16 years.

While serving as COO, Jay has provided strong leadership across WKS operations and played a critical role in the continued growth and success of the company and its brands. Throughout his tenure, he has worked closely with WKS’ brand partners and senior leadership teams, building strong relationships and bringing extensive operational experience and a deep understanding of the restaurant business to his role. In his role as COO, he helped the company grow from 65 restaurants to 382.

As President & COO, Spongberg will continue to lead WKS operations while taking on broader responsibility across the organization. His promotion recognizes his significant contributions to WKS and the leadership he has demonstrated throughout his 26-year career with the company.

Roland Spongberg, Chief Executive Officer of WKS Restaurant Group, stated that he is pleased to have Jay take on this expanded role, noting that Jay’s leadership, operational expertise, and deep knowledge of WKS will continue to be invaluable as the company moves forward.

“I have had the opportunity to work alongside Jay for many years, and I have seen firsthand the impact he has had on WKS,” said Roland Spongberg. “I am excited to continue working with him in this expanded role and look forward to what we will accomplish together in the years ahead.”

## Entities

- Franchising.com (publication)
- QSR (sector)
- leadership change (topic)
- restaurant operations (topic)
- company growth (topic)
- WKS Restaurant Group (company)
- Jay Spongberg (person)
- Roland Spongberg (person)

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Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/news/20260922_jay_spongberg_promoted_to_president__chief_operating_officer_of_wks_restaur.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/04e46734-73b6-4f65-ace9-d60cca273d24).