La Madeleine Country French Cafe, which operates more than 60 French cuisine cafes in the eastern U.S., announced that Darren Bothe will serve as the company's new senior director of development.

“Darren will play an integral leadership role in the growth and development of the la Madeleine brand as he drives the strategy and execution of real estate selection, franchise relationships, and lease negotiations,” says Phil Costner, COOof la Madeleine. “Darren brings a wealth of experience, vision and insight to the team, which will undoubtedly strengthen the decision-making process and ensure consistent, predictable results as we accelerate our growth.” 

Bothe previously served as real estate manager and director of franchise development for Boston’s Gourmet Pizza, where he was responsible for recruiting franchisees and assisting them with site selection and procurement. During his five-year tenure, Bothe worked in markets across the country to identify and secure outparcels, pad sites, and retail end caps.

Bothe also spent four years at the Dallas-based commercial real estate firm, Jackson & Cooksey, Ltd, where he specialized in tenant representation for various local and national real estate users.