Focus Brands appoints Mike Woodward to grow brand presence in North America

Woodward will focus on strategic global growth across all seven brands in the company’s portfolio | Photo credit: Focus Brands

Atlanta-based franchise group Focus Brands has appointed Mike Woodward as its new Senior Vice President of Franchise Sales. 
 

Focus Brands said that Woodward, who previously served in a similar role for hotel franchisor Wyndham Hotels & Resorts, will focus on strategic global growth across all seven brands in the company’s portfolio. 

Focus Brands operates more than 6,400 restaurants, cafés, ice cream shops, and bakeries in the US and over 50 countries around the world under the Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli and Schlotzsky's brands. 

In January 2022, Focus Brands reported selling a ‘record breaking’ 561 franchise agreements in 2021, citing digital innovation, brand collaborations and non-traditional stores as key parts of its growth strategy.   

In June, its largest franchisee Fresh Dining Concepts, which operates approximately 160 Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon and Jamba locations across the US, received $44m to grow its footprint in the US. 

"Focus Brands is continuing to build a best-in-class development organisation and adding Mike to the team creates an opportunity for us to further advance our leadership in the QSR industry. With his 20+ years of franchise sales experience at a global company, Mike's leadership, coupled with our already strong sales team, will add value to both prospective and existing brand franchisees," said Brian Krause, Chief Development Officer, Focus Brands.