Bonchon U.S., the South Korean fried-chicken brand, has promoted Bryan Shin as CEO, the company announced Tuesday.
Dallas-based Bonchon said Shin previously served as global chief financial officer for the brand. He succeeds Flynn Dekker, who left the position this month to become CEO at Houston-based Shipley Do-Nuts.
Shin joined Bonchon as head of global finance in 2019 after more than 10 years in the global food and beverage industry. He previously served in various top global leadership and senior positions with such brands as Goose Island Beer Co., Yum Brands and CJ Foodville, a subsidiary of Korean conglomerate CJ Group.
“As a leader with a solid cross-functional background, Bryan holds a holistic viewpoint of how to optimize the F&B business in a competitive environment,” said Byungmoo Park, Bonchon’s chairman, in a statement.
“His strength lies in his extensive knowledge of franchise business, market launch and store development, store operations and optimization, and exposure to franchisees from diverse backgrounds and countries, which are vital elements for the successful operation of a restaurant business,” Park said.
The U.S. branch of Bonchon moved its headquarters from New York City to Dallas in 2020.
Shin said: “As CEO at Bonchon, I have the unique opportunity to share my Korean heritage and love of the culture while also focusing on strengthening the fundamentals of our business.
“Initiatives will include launching new products, supporting our franchisees by providing tools to streamline operations, exploring the use of technology to improve efficiencies, and developing a new store design and layout to meet ever-changing consumer demands,” Shin said.
Bonchon was founded in Busan, South Korea, in 2002, and established in the United States in 2006. The brand has more than 400 restaurants across nine nations.
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