For the first time in the restaurant’s 25-year history, Charley’s Grilled Subs has hired a chief operating officer to guide the brand into the future.
Bob Wright, a former vice president for both Wendy’s International and Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, has been named the new COO for Charley’s Grilled Subs.
“Charley’s is experiencing tremendous growth in partnership with our franchisees and we’ll be able to continue on this path by exceeding our customers’ expectations every time they visit,” Wright says. “I am thrilled to use my experience to keep the momentum going. We’re growing fast and I am excited about what’s in store.”
In 2010 alone, 38 new Charley’s restaurants opened. The company is planning to build another 46 locations this year. In addition to fast U.S. restaurant growth, Charley’s has also hit some milestones with development overseas; Charley’s recently signed its12th location in the United Arab Emirates and will soon be opening in the Dubai International Airport in Terminal 1. In addition, Charley’s expanded this year to the Dominican Republic and Brazil for the first time.
In his new role with the company, Wright will oversee the franchise and company operations, in addition to purchasing, training, and store openings. At his previous companies, Wright led the implementation of customer service systems, resulting in as much as a 15 percent increase in customer experience scores. He also was credited with creating a successful company-wide customer courtesy program.
“I am excited to watch the company continue to grow, and I’m confident that Bob’s experience will help lead our organization into the future,” says Charley Shin, CEO and founder. “Bob shares our passion for the Philly Cheesesteak and our vision for the brand.”
