Stevi B’s Pizza announced that Allyson K. Smith was named chief marketing officer for the brand. In this position, Smith will lead all strategic brand efforts, including brand management, consumer promotions, national and field marketing, advertising, media, and system-wide communications.
”Allyson brings the ideal set of experience to Stevi B’s,” says Matthew Loney, president of Stevi B’s Pizza. “She understands what it means to work with a national concept made up of multiunit, multiconcept, and single store franchisees. She is familiar with the marketing cooperative model and has impressive insight into the entire marketing mix. It says a great deal about the potential of our brand to secure a talent like Allyson and it couldn’t come at a better time. We have exciting work in progress and anticipate finishing strong in 2010.”
A seasoned veteran in the franchise and foodservice arena, Smith has more than 11 years of marketing and management experience in the food and beverage realm, most recently as vice president of national and brand marketing for Arby’s Restaurant Group. Smith spent more than nine years working with the brand on developing and leading the implementation of Arby’s annual marketing plan, as well as product and consumer promotions. She was heavily involved with all aspects of marketing including consumer insights, product development, operations, advertising, public relations, and field marketing.
During her tenure at Arby’s Restaurant Group, Smith took home several honors including the Go-Getter Annual Award, the Have Fun Annual Award, and the Employee of the Year President’s Annual Award.
”It’s an exciting time to join an emerging concept like Stevi B’s that has the three critical pillars for success: strong corporate leadership and financial backing, great concept with potential for growth, and a promising franchise community,” Smith says. “As we come out of the recession, Stevi B’s is well positioned to compete for increased market share within the all important family segment as well as weekday lunch segment.”
Smith is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a Bachelor of Arts degree.
