Subway Names Ex-Burger King Leader CEO in Post-Acquisition Shakeup

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Subway Names Ex-Burger King Leader CEO in Post-Acquisition Shakeup
Diners eat at a Subway restaurant on June 05, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson/Getty Images/Getty Images

Subway has announced a big leadership change. On July 28, Jonathan Fitzpatrick, a former Burger King executive, will become the new CEO of the sandwich chain.

This move comes as Subway tries to grow and compete in the fast-food market after being bought by Roark Capital.

Fitzpatrick brings plenty of experience. He's been in charge of Driven Brands, the company behind auto service names like Meineke and Maaco, since 2012.

According to AP News, Driven Brands is also owned by Roark Capital, so this change keeps leadership close to home.

Before joining Driven Brands, Fitzpatrick held senior positions at Burger King, where he served as executive vice president and chief brand officer.

Subway shared that Fitzpatrick will team up with interim CEO Carrie Walsh to help ensure a smooth transition in leadership.

This is the first time Subway has hired a CEO since being purchased by Roark in 2024. Roark is a private equity firm that also owns other big names in food, like Dunkin', Arby's, and Jimmy John's.

The firm is known for growing restaurant brands and improving operations.

Former Burger King Exec to Lead Subway's Future

Founded in 1965, Subway grew to become one of the biggest restaurant chains in the world.

Today, Subway has nearly 37,000 restaurants spread across more than 100 countries around the world, NY Post said.

But in recent years, Subway has faced tough competition from other sandwich shops like Jersey Mike's and Firehouse Subs. Some customers also grew bored of Subway's build-your-own sandwich model.

In 2022, Subway tried to fix this by launching a new line of chef-created subs. Then in 2024, Roark said it planned to update stores and grow the brand internationally.

Fitzpatrick is stepping into the role after John Chidsey, who was the first CEO from outside Subway's founding family. Chidsey led the company for five years before stepping down in late 2024.

His leadership helped start changes that Roark now plans to continue under Fitzpatrick.

In a statement, Subway said the leadership change is part of its plan to modernize and grow in a tough market.

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