Guzman y Gomez appoints Guy Russo as board chairman
Russo has more than 40 years of retail and food experience.
Guzman y Gomez (GYG) has announced that long-standing GYG board member Guy Russo has been appointed Chairman of the Board.
Russo previously served as CEO of Wesfarmers Department Stores, President at McDonald’s Greater China, and Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at McDonald’s Australia. He joined the GYG board in 2014 and is said to have been part of the chain's expansion over the last 4 years.
“Guy Russo is one of the most dynamic and successful retail executives in Australia, if not the world,” Guzman y Gomez Founder & Global CEO Steven Marks said. “He’s one of the most astute board members I’ve seen. As Chairman he will have high expectations of both board and management to deliver across all aspects of governance and the business.”
“Under the leadership of Steven and Robert [Hazan], GYG has been on a remarkable journey since its first restaurant opened in Newtown in 2006. I’ve been fortunate to have been involved for much of this time and anticipate an exciting future as we pursue a mission to reinvent fast food," Russo commented. “We’ll be seeing more of the exciting food and culture that GYG has become renowned for along with some category-defining work in menu and restaurant innovations over the next 12 months."
Guzman y Gomez has already opened 2 restaurants in 2019 in Box Hill, VIC and Birtinya, QLD with 15 new restaurants planned across Australia this year. Major milestones for the brand over the past 12 months include the launch of a day part menu strategy including breakfast, Little G’s, a new range of healthy kids meals, and securing $44 million investment from TDM Growth Partners to bolster domestic and international growth.
