Joe Guith promoted to Cinnabon President, Kat Cole promoted to Group President, FOCUS Brands
Joe Guith, Chief Operating Officer for Cinnabon, Inc., has been promoted to President of Cinnabon. Joe will continue to build on the strong momentum created by his popular predecessor, Kat Cole. In a statement, Guith shared, “I am excited to be part of such an iconic and popular brand that’s name evokes a positive connection with so many people. It has been an exhilarating transition as I’ve become acquainted with the team and franchisees, indulged in every Cinnabon treat, and explored all the exciting ways in which the brand is growing.”
While Guith takes over as president of Cinnabon, Cole will remain an influential asset to the brand’s development. Cole has been promoted to taking on a larger, global role with the parent company as Group President, FOCUS Brands. She will oversee the business and growth of all brands at FOCUS in consumer packaged goods, foodservice licensing, global licensed platforms and E-commerce channels. Close at the helm, Cole and Guith will work together under the FOCUS Brands umbrella to accelerate the multichannel development of Cinnabon, while Guith focuses on the core franchise business and corporate team advancement.
Kat has been president of Cinnabon, Inc. for the past four years, where she was accountable for leading, evolving and building the team and multi-channel brand. In her four years as president at Cinnabon, her team and franchisees have accomplished franchise unit growth to 1200 in 55 countries and increased profitability, franchisee satisfaction, philanthropic partnerships, and comp sales performance that is the strongest the brand has seen in over a decade. In that same time, Cinnabon awareness, cult following, social media engagement, and multi-channel retail products (70 products in 70,000 points of distribution) and brand extensions have been in the top of its segment and the industry at large. In 2013, Cinnabon passed $1 Billion in annual branded product sales globally through all retail channels and continued to grow beyond that in 2014.
Kat is thrilled to steward in new leadership and is incredibly excited about the brand’s future and her new role. Kat shared, “Joe brings strong experience in consumer brands, franchising and strategy, has proven himself most recently as the brand’s Chief Operating Officer and is the right leader at the right time to take over this role as Cinnabon president.”
Previously, Guith worked with clients such as The Coca-Cola Company, Molson Coors Brewing Company and Staples, Inc. His prior roles were in general management and strategy with Coca-Cola and Yum! Brands in domestic and international markets. With over 20 years of experience in food service, consumer products and retail, he brings a breadth of experience relevant to the continued growth of the Cinnabon brand.
Joe is originally from Michigan and has a BBA and MBA from the University of Michigan. He currently lives in Atlanta with his wife and two children.
Founded in Seattle in 1985 and now based in Atlanta, Cinnabon, Inc. is the market leader among cinnamon roll bakeries. The company serves fresh, aromatic, oven-hot cinnamon rolls, as well as a variety of other baked goods and specialty beverages. Cinnabon currently operates 1,100 franchised locations worldwide, primarily in high traffic venues such as shopping malls, airports, train stations, travel plazas, entertainment centers and military establishments. Cinnabon is also a multi-channel licensor, partnering with other companies to provide brand licensed products at foodservice and retail venues. Visit www.cinnabon.com for more information, follow us on Twitter @Cinnabon or become a Facebook fan at http://www.facebook.com/Cinnabon.
Atlanta-based FOCUS Brands Inc. is the franchisor and operator of over 4,000 ice cream shoppes, bakeries, restaurants and cafes in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and 60 foreign countries under the brand names Carvel, Cinnabon, Schlotzsky’s, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Auntie Anne’s Pretzels and McAlister’s Deli, as well as Seattle’s Best Coffee on certain military bases and in certain international markets. Please visit www.focusbrands.com to learn more.
