Press Room
January 07, 2008
Friendly's Names John Bowie Senior Vice President For Company Operations- Contacts:
- Maura Tobias
- Director, Public Affairs & Communications
- Friendly's Restaurants
- (413) 731-4238
- Maura.tobias@friendlys.com
Former Wendy's Executive Will Focus on Standards and Service
WILBRAHAM, Mass. (January 7, 2008) - Friendly Ice Cream Corporation has named John Bowie, Senior Vice President for Company Operations effective December 17, 2007. In this role, Bowie will direct the operations of all Friendly's company restaurants with a focus on elevating operating standards and enhancing guest service.
Bowie comes to Friendly's from Wendy's International, Inc., where he was Division Vice President for the Mid-Atlantic Division. He had full profit and loss responsibility for more than 700 company and franchised restaurants with sales of $900+ million. He also had total regional responsibility for strategic and tactical planning for four operating divisions within the North Region, encompassing 2,500 company and franchised restaurants.
In his 13 years with Wendy's he held a series of other progressively responsible positions, including Division Vice President for the Eastern Division and Regional Marketing Director for the Northeast Region. He also led marketing for Asia and the Pacific Rim within the international division of Wendy's.
"In addition to his strong operations and marketing background, John brings to Friendly's a passion for the restaurant business, leadership and focus," said Friendly's President and CEO George M. Condos. "I am confident that he will deliver the operational standards and exceptional guest service that will enable Friendly's to achieve our objectives for growth. We are delighted to have him on our team."
"Friendly's is an icon in family dining with a rich heritage of quality food and service. I grew up with the brand and I am still a loyal customer! I'm tremendously excited to join an impassioned management team under George Condos - - all very committed to driving this business and building a strong national brand," said Bowie.
Before joining Wendy's Bowie was Assistant to the President of Barrett Restaurants in Boston, a 17-unit chain of full-service casual and upscale concepts. He also ran his own business, managing three-wholly owned subsidiaries specializing in aluminum products, insulation and residential construction.
He holds an M.B.A. from Duke University's Fuqua School of Business and a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration from the University of Notre Dame.
Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is a vertically integrated restaurant company serving signature sandwiches, entrees and ice cream desserts in a friendly, family environment in more than 505 company and franchised restaurants throughout the Northeast. The company also manufactures ice cream, which is distributed through more than 4,000 supermarkets and other retail locations. With a 72-year operating history, Friendly's enjoys strong brand recognition and is currently revitalizing its restaurants and introducing new products to grow its customer base. The website is www.friendlys.com.
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