The build-your-own pizza franchise appoints Marie Zhang as chief supply chain officer and Ed Yancey as vice president of franchise development
The fast-casual pizza concept, Blaze Pizza, is strategically adding new team members to its executive lineup. Most recently, the brand announced the addition of Marie Zhang as chief supply chain officer and Ed Yancey as vice president of franchise development to its corporate team.
“I am thrilled that Marie and Ed have joined the Blaze leadership team,” said Mandy Shaw, CEO of Blaze Pizza. “Their individual 25-plus years’ experience building world-class organizations with some of the best brands in the business will help propel us into the next phase of growth.”
As chief supply chain officer for Blaze Pizza, Zhang is leading the enterprise-wide supply chain function, including sourcing, distribution, demand planning, manufacturing and quality assurance to support the company’s growth strategies in the U.S. and international markets.
Her immediate task is to develop and maintain good relationships and partnerships with suppliers and distributors to ensure acceptable product cost, quality, and service, and to build the scalable supply chain and quality assurance infrastructure and processes that can take Blaze Pizza to the next level as a global brand.
Zhang said: “Obviously, the entire modern supply chain has been disrupted, but there’s a tremendous opportunity to evaluate and adapt. I’m looking forward to leading the charge on this with Blaze Pizza in the months and years to come.”
Seasoned executive, Yancey, joins Blaze Pizza with a history of working in the restaurant industry. Growing from an owner-operator to a franchise sales leader, he brings a breadth of knowledge and skills to the table.
Prior to Blaze Pizza, he earned his development stripes working for notable restaurant brands such as Jersey Mike’s, B. Good and Dunkin’ Brands. Now, vice president of franchise development, Yancey will focus his efforts on expanding Blaze Pizza’s footprint nationwide through multi-unit deals.
“Continuing to connect, on a personal and professional level, with leads is important now more than ever,” said Yancey. “We’re having genuine conversations about their long-term goals as it relates to financial security, and there are promising developments coming down the pipeline. I’m honored to work with a brand that stays true to its authentic roots no matter the circumstance.”
Blaze Pizzas has implemented a range of new safety protocols to ensure that it continues to offer its products amid the coronavirus crisis, including installing plexiglass partitions, social distancing markers, team member wellness checks, and bags to safely store masks while diners eat. Plus, most locations have a designated host in the dining area to assist guests throughout their visit.
