Franchise leader Jim Amos announced he is stepping down as CEO of Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie at the end of 2012 to move forward with other endeavors, including serving on the boards of various franchise companies and focusing on his advocacy in franchise and veterans’ affairs.
Following Amos’ departure as CEO, Peter D. Holt, the company’s chief operating officer, will be promoted to the role of president and CEO. Holt brings more than 25 years of franchising experience to the company.
Amos, a franchise-community leader with more than 30 years of experience, has been CEO of Tasti D-Lite LLC since 2007, when New York–based private equity firm Snow Phipps Group acquired the company.
In November 2011, Tasti D-Lite acquired national smoothie franchise Planet Smoothie, launching a new co-branding initiative. Amos will stay on as chairman of the company and as an operating partner of Snow Phipps Group.
Amos was inducted into the International Franchise Association (IFA) Hall of Fame in February 2012, the highest recognition offered in the world of franchising. The award was presented to Amos in recognition of his strong leadership experience, contribution to humanitarian efforts, and his personal contributions to the world of franchising.
Amos has served in numerous leadership positions with IFA, including the role of chairman in 2001, as well as having contributed to veteran outreach efforts and participated in mentorship programs. He also received the 2012 Nashville Business Leader Legend Award.
Before taking over Tasti D-Lite, Amos was chairman and CEO of Mail Boxes Etc., where he grew the brand into the world’s largest franchisor of retail business, communication, and postal-service centers with more than 4,000 locations in 80 countries.
Amos was instrumental in the company’s sale to UPS, whereupon the system was renamed The UPS Store. Previously, Amos was CEO of Brice Foods, a franchisor of multiple food and beverage businesses, where he led the growth of the company’s “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!” concept to more than 1,300 international locations.
Amos has become a sought-after speaker and writer. His latest book, co-authored with BJ Emerson and published by McGraw-Hill, was The Tasti D-Lite Way: Social Media Marketing Lessons for Building Loyalty and a Brand Customers Crave. It has been met with critical acclaim.
“I am looking forward to continuing to speak and write, working on my new book, The Journey, focusing on my blog, www.JimAmosBlog.com, and remaining active in the franchise community through board work and participation in private equity,” Amos says.
In addition to his role at Tasti D-Lite, Amos serves as chairman of the franchise advisory board for Agile Pursuits Franchising, Inc. (a Procter & Gamble company).
Amos is the author of several other books, including The Memorial, Focus or Failure: America at the Crossroads, and The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Franchising.
Amos was also a contributing author to The Transparent Leader, Corporate Giants, Above and Beyond, You Can Do It, The Entrepreneurs’ Creed, and Living An Uncommon Life.
Amos is a Marine Corps veteran who served in Vietnam. He received 12 decorations, including the Purple Heart and Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry. Amos has been recognized for his support of veteran franchisees, and Tasti D-Lite was named a 2012 “Military Friendly Franchise” by G.I. Jobs Magazine.
