Subway announced a slew of executive changes this week, as the fast-food subway giant continues to land a buyer.
With the search for a buyer stretching into the second half of 2023, Subway announced a slew of executive moves this week, including the appointment of new head of North America.
Trevor Haynes
Trevor Haynes, the president of North America and the No. 2 executive, is leaving the Miami-based fast-food sandwich giant at the end of the year and will be replaced by Douglas Fry on September 5. Haynes joined Subway in 2006 as territory manager in Australia and has held many roles at the company, including chief business development officer and interim CEO. He has served as the North America president since 2019.
Douglas Fry
Fry, who joined the company two years ago, served as director of Subway’s Canadian operations. Prior to joining Subway, Fry worked for McDonald’s, Recipe Brands and Kraft Heinz.
Subway has not yet named a new leader for the Canada region.
“Trevor has played a pivotal role in shaping the brand’s vision, strengthening our position in the market, and enriching the lives of our guests, franchisees and employees,” said John Chidsey, Subway CEO, in a prepared statement about Haynes. “We’re immensely grateful for his numerous contributions to accelerate our brand transformation strategy in North America and know the positive impact of his leadership will continue to shape Subway for many years to come.”
Haynes joined Subway in 2006 as territory manager in Australia and has held many roles at the company, including chief business development officer and interim CEO. Fry and Haynes will then spend the remainder of 2023 “working closely together to ensure a smooth transition, with Haynes in a strategic advisory role,” according to a company statement.
Carrie Walsh
In other moves, Subway’s former global chief marketing officer, Carrie Walsh, recently transitioned to a new role as president of Europe, Middle East and Africa, where she is responsible for overseeing all functions across 50 countries and territories with more than 6,200 franchised Subway locations, including operations, finance, marketing and development. Walsh has been a member of Subway’s executive leadership team for four years.
The company’s former EMEA president, Mike Kehoe, will return to the U.S. as global chief development officer in a new role for Subway, focused on setting the global strategy for traditional and nontraditional development. During his tenure in EMEA, the company credited Kehoe for making significant contributions to the continued development, profitability and expansion of the Subway brand in the EMEA region and being instrumental in signing master franchise agreements in seven countries, representing nearly 3,000 future restaurant commitments.
Mike Kehoe
Kehoe, who joined Subway in 2020 after nearly five years as president of international at Focus Brands, will assume his new role on October 16.
In addition, Subway promoted Cristina Wells as senior vice president of U.S. marketing. Wells joined the U.S. marketing team in 2021 as vice president of strategy and planning after spending five years with Subway in Canada in both marketing, strategy and operations roles.
Subway, which has been actively looking for a buyer since the start of the year, is in its third phrase of a multiyear brand transformation. In July, the company rolled out in-store meat slicers as part of that effort.
As one of the world’s largest quick service restaurant brands, Subway operates nearly 37,000 restaurants in over 100 countries. Subway finished 2022 with 20,576 units in the U.S. and is ranked No. 7 on the Franchise Times Top 500, with estimated global systemwide sales of $17.5 billion.
Despite its well-publicized struggles to grow, the company reported North America same-store sales increased by 9.3 percent in the first half of 2023 along with 10 consecutive quarters of positive sales.