Focus Brands—the franchisor and operator of 3,500 ice cream stores, bakeries, restaurants, and cafés under the brand names Carvel, Cinnabon, Schlotzsky’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Auntie Anne’s—announced that Lester Arnold has been named senior vice president of human resources.
Formerly the vice president of human resources at Aramark, Arnold brings more than 20 years of experience to Focus, where he will promote personal and leadership growth of the team; oversee recruiting, training, and development; and ensure the continuation and growth of the Focus Brands culture, philosophies, and values.
“Lester is a well-respected leader in HR, and we look forward to the fresh perspective and new ideas he brings to take our recruitment and training efforts to the next level,” says Russ Umphenour, CEO of Focus Brands. “As our companies grow, it’s essential we have a leader like Lester in place to ensure we maintain our valued company culture and have the right people in place to lead the way.”
Prior to Aramark, Arnold held HR leadership positions at companies like Lowe’s, Wachovia, Towers Perin, and MCI.
He received his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Norfolk State University, his MBA with a concentration in human resources management from the University of Hartford, and is a senior professional in human resources, as certified through the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).
He is also an active member of industry organizations like Charlotte Metro YMCA’s Diversity and Inclusion Committee and the Society for Human Resources Management.
