FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty) Brands has announced the appointment of Michael G. Chachula as its new chief information officer (CIO). Chachula joins the franchisor with over 20 years of experience in senior management and will be tasked with delivering scalable, sustainable, and efficient technology platforms across the portfolio and franchise system.
“I am so pleased to join FAT Brands, a company with a proven business model and incredibly talented management team,” said Chachula.
“Throughout the pandemic, technology has been front and center in the restaurant space, and, as we look to a post-COVID world, it will be even more imperative to have strong systems in place at the corporate, franchisee and consumer level. I look forward to amplifying what is currently in place and identifying new solutions that will keep FAT Brands at the forefront of our industry.”
He was most recently the head of digital and revenue growth at The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, where he implemented an enterprise POS system, CRM, marketing automation, and cross-channel omni-channel growth solutions for the brand and its franchise system. Prior to this, he served as the head of technology and executive director at IHOP Restaurants and introduced online ordering, delivery, POS, and CRM alternatives, technology footprint simplifications, and numerous other technology improvements, focusing on corporate and franchisee scalability, enablement, and profitability.
Under Chachula’s leadership, IHOP won the CIO Magazine’s 2018 CIO 100 award for in-car marketplace ordering through the dashboard console and natural voice ordering on Amazon’s Alexa as well as Google Home.
“Michael’s experience is a perfect fit to support the growing FAT Brands’ portfolio,” said Thayer Wiederhorn, chief operating officer of FAT Brands.
“Michael’s extensive technology background and industry knowledge will help FAT Brands strengthen our technology ecosystem, develop strategic partnerships, and support our domestic and international growth, which, in turn, will enable our company and franchisees to become more efficient and profitable.”
