Jack in the Box restaurant
Jack in the Box Inc. is overhauling its leadership team.
 

SAN DIEGO — Jack in the Box Inc. is overhauling its leadership team, and the first step is eliminating its brand president position. Current brand president, Frances Allen, will resign from her role on Feb. 9 after serving as the company’s brand president since Nov. 2014.

Lenny Comma, Jack in the Box
Lenny Comma, chairman and c.e.o. of Jack in the Box

“I will take the opportunity to flatten our organizational structure following the expected sale of our Qdoba brand,” said Lenny Comma, chairman and chief executive officer of Jack in the Box. “Frances graciously suggested the elimination of her position so that we could more quickly begin restructuring the brand’s leadership. Frances was instrumental in refining the brand’s strategy and positioning, with an emphasis on improving the quality of the food and transforming the business model to be more asset light through refranchising. We’re grateful for her exemplary leadership and believe the Jack in the Box brand is stronger as a result of her many contributions. We wish her all the best.”

As another step in the leadership team reorganization, Marcus Tom is joining Jack in the Box as vice-president and chief operating officer on Feb. 12. In this role, he will oversee operations for company and franchise restaurants as well as strategic initiatives and operations services.

Frances Allen, Jack in the Box
Frances Allen will resign from her role as brand president on Feb. 9.
 

Mr. Tom joins Jack in the Box from JAB Beech Inc., where he was most recently senior vice-president of operations for its Caribou Coffee brand. Before that, he was senior vice-president of operations for JAB’s Einstein Bros. Bagels brand. Prior to JAB, Mr. Tom held several positions of increasing responsibility with Starbucks Coffee Co., including director of business operations for all licensed stores in the U.S. and Canada, regional director for company-operated stores in San Diego and Phoenix, and regional vice-president over 600 stores. Before that, he spent 15 years in different roles at Yum! Brands, Inc., including as a senior leader for the company’s franchised business in Central America and the Caribbean.

“Marcus is an agile leader with a proven record of achieving high levels of operational excellence across large retail systems, like Starbucks,” Mr. Comma said. “Adding a seasoned restaurant-industry veteran like him, with his unique skillset and proficiencies in operations, is a key piece of our refocused Jack in the Box leadership team.”

Mr. Tom’s appointment is Jack in the Box’s second new hire this year. On Jan. 17, the company announced that Lance Tucker, senior vice-president, c.f.o. and chief administrative officer at Papa John’s International Inc., would be joining Jack in the Box as chief financial officer on March 26.