---
title: "Dog Haus adds franchise veterans to executive team"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/375c1abc-fa17-4ac5-80e0-9a9876cb3658
source: "FastCasual"
original_url: https://www.fastcasual.com/news/dog-haus-adds-franchise-veterans-to-executive-team/
category: "Fast casual"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Fast casual"
topics: ["Development & multi-unit"]
published: 2026-06-08T10:00:00.000Z
modified: 2026-10-31T13:16:46.664Z
image: https://nmgprod.s3.amazonaws.com/media/file/cd/73/480132a5aeaa9620dc55ba56a8b4/cover_image__5ZbJdQdC__DogHaus_USETHIS.jpg
---

# Dog Haus adds franchise veterans to executive team

**TL;DR:** Dog Haus has appointed Chris Rigassio and Garen Khodaverdian to its executive team to lead a 1,500-unit expansion plan. Rigassio and Khodaverdian have also joined the company's ownership partnership alongside founders and CEO Michael Montagano.

*originally published in FastCasual on 2026-06-08. [Read the original](https://www.fastcasual.com/news/dog-haus-adds-franchise-veterans-to-executive-team/).*

## Story

Dog Haus has appointed franchise industry veterans Chris Rigassio and Garen Khodaverdian to its executive team as the fast-casual brand pursues its 1,500-location expansion strategy. Rigassio was named president and chief development officer, while Khodaverdian takes on the chief operating officer role. Both will report to CEO Michael Montagano, according to a company press release.

The appointments come as the Pasadena, California-based chain plans to expand across new and existing markets. Rigassio and Khodaverdian have also joined the company's ownership partnership alongside founders Hagop Giragossian, Quasim Riaz and André Vener, as well as Montagano.

As president and chief development officer, Rigassio will lead the company's area director program, with the goal of recruiting multi-unit operators from other fast-casual restaurant brands. He also will oversee development initiatives focused on site selection, construction and operational efficiencies. Khodaverdian will be responsible for operations, with a focus on improving efficiencies, managing costs and enhancing the customer experience as the brand grows.

Rigassio and Khodaverdian began their restaurant careers as part-time employees at Jersey Mike's Subs, later becoming multi-unit franchisees. They currently operate more than 100 restaurants across multiple brands, including Jersey Mike's and Wingstop.

"This is an unprecedented deal that bridges the gap between franchisor and franchisee, where economic and governance interests are truly aligned for the first time ever in our industry," Montagano said in a press release.

## Entities

- unit expansion (topic)
- franchise development (topic)
- Multi-Unit (sector)
- FastCasual (publication)
- Wingstop (company)
- Dog Haus (company)
- Jersey Mike's Subs (company)
- Hagop Giragossian (person)
- Quasim Riaz (person)
- Andre Vener (person)
- executive team (topic)
- Michael Montagano (person)

---
Originally reported by FastCasual (https://www.fastcasual.com/news/dog-haus-adds-franchise-veterans-to-executive-team/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/375c1abc-fa17-4ac5-80e0-9a9876cb3658).