QDOBA Mexican Eats appoints Jim Sullivan as chief development officer

QDOBA Mexican Eats, the fast-casual Mexican restaurant concept with 740 locations across the U.S. and Canada, has appointed industry veteran Jim Sullivan as its new chief development officer.

With a track record of success at brands such as CKE Restaurant Holdings – the parent company of Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, Green Burrito, and Red Burrito – as well as Friendly’s Ice Cream Corporation, Sullivan brings over 25 years of franchise experience to his role at QDOBA.

“Jim brings a unique perspective and strong leadership approach, backed by a proven track record of successfully accelerating franchise growth for some of the nation’s leading restaurant concepts,” said Keith Guilbault, CEO of QDOBA.

“His expertise and years of experience in growing brands similar to ours in size and scale will serve us well in connecting with new franchise partners, expanding our nationwide footprint, and reaching new heights as a company.”

In this new role, Sullivan will be responsible for leading all restaurant development activities, including market planning, site selection, real estate negotiations, franchise sales and more to support the company’s aggressive growth plan.

“As a fan of the company, I’m thrilled to be joining QDOBA at such a pivotal moment in its next phase of expansion,” said Sullivan. “In my new role, I will be focused on entering new markets and strengthening our brand presence in existing markets.”