Chief Executive Officer - Retail
About the Role We are seeking a transformational Chief Executive Officer to lead a fast-scaling retail and food & beverage roll-up platform backed by private equity. The CEO will be responsible for building a high-performing organization capable of acquiring, integrating, and scaling multiple brands across a multi-state footprint. This leader must thrive in complexity, move with urgency, and know how to turn fragmented businesses into a unified, efficient, profitable platform. The ideal candidate has deep multi-unit operating experience, a strong understanding of retail and food service dynamics, and a proven background partnering with private equity to accelerate growth, improve unit economics, and execute multi-brand consolidation strategies. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Value Creation • Define and execute the long-term vision and strategy for the roll-up platform. • Build an operating model capable of supporting rapid M&A, integration, and scalability. • Partner with private equity sponsors to align on key value drivers, investment priorities, and exit strategies. M&A Integration & Platform Building • Lead the integration of acquired retail and F&B businesses, ensuring cultural alignment, operational discipline, and brand consistency. • Build playbooks for finance, HR, operations, supply chain, marketing, and technology integration. • Evaluate acquisition targets, conduct operational due diligence, and support deal execution. Operational Excellence • Oversee a multi-brand, multi-unit operational infrastructure with a relentless focus on unit economics, margins, labor optimization, and guest experience. • Implement world-class processes and KPIs across all brands. • Drive cross-brand synergies in supply chain, procurement, marketing, and G&A. Talent, Culture & Leadership • Build and develop a top-tier executive team capable of scaling aggressively and handling complexity. • Establish a high-performance culture grounded in accountability, clarity, and speed. • Mentor and empower operators, district leaders, and brand presidents to meet performance targets. Financial Management & Reporting • Own P&L, budgeting, forecasting, and financial performance across all brands. • Drive EBITDA expansion through operational improvement, integration efficiencies, and disciplined cost management. • Provide transparent reporting and insights to the Board and private equity sponsors. Brand & Customer Experience • Ensure each brand maintains a distinct identity while benefiting from shared infrastructure. • Oversee marketing, digital strategy, loyalty, and brand-building initiatives. • Elevate the customer experience across both retail and food & beverage verticals. Growth & Expansion • Lead new unit development across markets while optimizing existing store portfolios. • Identify and execute opportunities for new market entry, brand extension, and digital expansion. • Drive scalable systems that support rapid growth without losing operational control. Qualifications • 15+ years of multi-unit leadership experience in retail, food & beverage, hospitality, franchising, or consumer services. • Significant experience working with private equity and leading PE-backed organizations. • Proven success in M&A integration, roll-ups, restructuring, or platform-building. • Deep operational expertise with a track record of improving unit-level performance. • Strong financial acumen and P&L ownership across large, complex organizations. • Exceptional leadership and communication skills with the ability to build high-performing teams. • Experience scaling from multi-unit to multi-brand environments preferred. • Ability to handle rapid growth, ambiguity, and pressure with clarity and discipline. What Success Looks Like • A unified, scalable platform with strong systems, people, and infrastructure. • Increased profitability through smarter operations and disciplined integration. • Highly efficient back-office operations supporting multiple brands. • Strong growth through M&A, organic expansion, and brand optimization. • A culture of accountability and operational excellence across the entire portfolio. • A clear, compelling value creation story that positions the company for a successful exit.