Four QSR Chains Get New Chief of Development

Atlanta-based Inspire Brands has appointed two veterans of development and supply chain management to oversee those areas for the 8,400 locations in its four-brand portfolio.

Don Crocker has moved up from senior vice-president of real estate to serve as chief development officer, leading company and franchise restaurant development, including real estate and construction, architecture and design, franchise recruitment, and facilities management, for Arby’s, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, and Rusty Taco. Prior to Inspire, he spent two decades at Chick-fil-A in a number of senior leadership roles within its real estate, restaurant development, and supply chain groups.

Christopher Held joins Inspire as chief supply officer, where he’ll lead efforts to centralize the company’s supply chain functions for BWW, Sonic and Rusty Taco brands, as well as Arby’s supply chain outside the United States. ARCOP, Arby’s supply chain cooperative, will continue to manage Arby’s U.S. supply chain and work with the Inspire supply chain team to coordinate supplier relationships. Held previously was with Restaurant Supply Chain Solutions, the supply chain management organization for Yum! Brands, where he led the supply chain for 4,500 KFC locations as the chain’s senior vice-president.