Sonic Drive-In’s brand president Claudia San Pedro is retiring and temporarily quitting the workforce, stated parent company Inspire Brands.
San Pedro now looks to focus on matters related to family health.
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Sister chain Arby’s brand president Jim Taylor will replace her in this role.
Inspire Brands said that under San Pedro’s tenure as the president, Sonic’s average unit volume in sales increased by more than 30%.
Jim Taylor was associated with Arby’s for nearly nine years and started there as the product development head.
He later became its chief marketing officer prior to assuming the role of president.
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By GlobalDataTaylor is claimed to have led the company through nine years of positive same-store sales growth and the highest average unit volume.
Inspire Brands CEO Paul Brown said: “Claudia has been an exceptional leader at Sonic since joining the brand in 2006. In her more than 16 years with the brand, Claudia led finance initiatives and operations, eventually rising to the role of brand president in 2018.
“Her unmatched leadership ability has helped guide the brand through several challenging economic and operating environments. Claudia has been an instrumental part of our success at Inspire and I hope to have the opportunity to welcome her back to the Inspire family in the future.”
Jim Taylor’s position as president at Arby’s is being filled by Rita Patel, who has been promoted from her role of chief marketing officer.
The most recent Arby’s vice-president of strategic growth initiatives Ellen Rose will now replace Patel as the brand’s chief marketing officer.
Rose has held several leadership positions in her nearly ten-year stint at Arby’s.
John Bowie has also been promoted from the role of chief operating officer at Buffalo Wild Wings to the brand president.
