Dunkin’ Brands, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, today announced that Rich Emmett joined the company as senior vice president and general counsel.

He will serve on the Dunkin’ Brands executive leadership team and will report directly to Dunkin’ Brands’ CEO Nigel Travis.

“Rich has extensive general counsel experience at big-brand, franchised, foodservice companies,” says Dunkin’ Brands’ CEO and Dunkin’ Donuts president Nigel Travis. “His management experience, business as well as legal acumen, and impressive track record in the development of strong franchisee relationships will be invaluable to us as we move our brands forward. We are delighted to welcome Rich to the senior leadership team.”

Before joining Dunkin’ Brands, Emmett was executive vice president, chief legal officer and secretary at QCE HOLDING LLC (Quiznos) where he was responsible for the oversight of the legal department, board management, and Sarbanes-Oxley compliance. He also served as a member of the Quiznos leadership team and worked with the company on a wide array of issues, ranging from the development of the overall business strategy to managing U.S. and international franchise relations.

Before Quiznos, Emmett served as senior vice president, general counsel and secretary for Papa Johns International Inc., where he was a member of the senior management team and was integrally involved in the company’s policy and strategic decision-making, as well as in the day-to-day operations of the business.