Inspire Brands, the multi-brand restaurant parent company behind Arby’s, Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic, and Jimmy John’s, has announced a slate of leadership changes intended to accelerate growth and strengthen operations across its portfolio.
The leadership reshuffle includes new appointments in key executive roles, reflecting the company’s ongoing efforts to drive momentum in both traditional and fast-casual formats worldwide. Inspire operates more than 33,000 restaurants globally across its brands and supports hundreds of thousands of team members and franchise partners.
- John Dawson has been named President of U.S. Development, bringing over 35 years of experience from roles with McDonald’s, Dunkin’ Brands, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, and El Pollo Loco. In his expanded role, Dawson will oversee domestic restaurant development, market planning, real estate, architecture and design, franchise sales, and new restaurant openings.
- Tristan Meline has been appointed President of Buffalo Wild Wings, succeeding longtime executive John Bowie, who is retiring after more than a decade with the company. Meline moves into the role after serving as the brand’s Chief Marketing Officer, bringing deep experience in both marketing and brand growth strategies.
- Additional brand presidents have been named for BWW Go, the fast-casual extension of the Buffalo Wild Wings concept, and Sonic, underscoring Inspire’s focus on leadership that can support expansion and innovation for larger-format and emerging units.
These changes are part of a broader talent strategy at Inspire that blends long-tenured internal promotions with well-regarded industry executives, all aimed at bolstering performance, franchise development, and guest experience across markets.
Inspire Brands has grown rapidly over the past decade through a combination of acquisitions and organic expansion, including major purchases such as the $11.3 billion acquisition of Dunkin’ Brands in 2020.
With a portfolio that spans coffee and bakery, sports bar and wings, delicatessen sandwiches, drive-in classics, and ice cream, the company continues to invest in leadership capability to remain competitive in dynamic global restaurant markets.
Leaders like Dawson and Meline will report to Inspire’s senior executives and are expected to play key roles in shaping the company’s next phase of growth, not just in the U.S., but in markets where the brands continue to scale.
