Paul Damico

Paul Damico is an accomplished and well-respected executive with more than 40 years of foodservice experience in the hospitality industry. Paul’s career includes top leadership roles in premium organizations including Host Marriott, FoodBrand, LLC, Creative Host, SSP America, FOCUS Brands portfolio of restaurants, Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill, Global Franchise Group, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and Dine Brands Global.

Following graduation from Johnson & Wales University in 1986 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Hotel Restaurant/Institutional Management and an Associate of Science degree in Hotel Food and Beverage Management (Culinary Arts) Paul spent 13 years in various roles with Host Marriott Corporation culminating to his role as Vice President of International Development where he oversaw restaurant development on five continents.

In 1999, his entrepreneurial instinct came to life and he co-founded FoodBrand LLC, a company that specialized in the development of restaurants in malls and airports. He and his co-founders grew this company to over 100 restaurant locations.

In 2005 he joined SSP America, a global concessions company as Chief Operating Officer responsible for the day-to-day operations for 42 airports in the USA, Canada, and Caribbean.

In 2008, Paul was recruited to Moe’s Southwest Grill (a Roark Capital/Focus Brands company) as President of the organization. Over a six-year period he grew the company from 170 locations to over 700, leading the industry in new restaurant openings and culinary development. During his time with Moe’s, Paul delivered 23 consecutive quarters of positive same store sales growth and was named by Fast Casual Magazine as a Top 26 Executive. While President of Moe’s, Paul was featured on the CBS hit TV series Undercover Boss where he went undercover to work in the restaurants and changed the lives of 5 Moe’s associates.

After six years with Moe’s, Paul was promoted to Group President, by FOCUS Brands, and was responsible for the oversight of McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky’s Deli. In early 2016, his role once again expanded to encompass all six FOCUS Brands, including Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Carvel Ice Cream and Cinnabon World Famous Cinnamon Rolls. As FOCUS Brands’ President of North America, Paul oversaw a $2.6 Billion-dollar foodservice company made up of more than 5,000 restaurants.

In 2017 Paul was tapped by Roark Capital to lead its startup concept Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill as CEO and prepare the brand for growth through franchising. He accomplished this goal and began selling franchises in 2018.

In the beginning of the pandemic, in 2020 he was recruited as CEO to lead Global Franchise Group, made up of over 2,000 restaurant locations under the brands of Great American Cookie, Marble Slab Creamery, Hot Dog On A Stick, Pretzel Maker, and Round Table Pizza. It was during his tenure here that he was again asked to film Under Cover Boss for the Round Table Pizza brand, and once again was given the opportunity to change the lives of many people. In early 2021 he successfully sold GFG to Fat Brands, a publicly traded restaurant company for $442 million dollars.

Following the sale of Global Franchise Group, he partnered with Atlanta based NRD Capital and was named CEO of Experiential Brands, a new restaurant holding company with Fuzzy’s Taco Shop as the first portfolio brand. Shortly after joining Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, the investment group observed the positive changes Paul was making and decided to capitalize on the timing. During the next year the company was sold to Dine Brands Global and Paul was asked to remain with the company and lead the Fuzzy’s brand.

An active member of the restaurant industry, Paul is an International Franchise Association Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) and Board Member of the National Restaurant Association Fast Casual Industry Council. Paul has also served on the Georgia Restaurant Association and the Illinois Restaurant Association Advisory Board. Paul is a philanthropist and advocate for children and the hungry community, generously donating his time and money to causes such as the No Kid Hungry and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF).

In 2015, Paul was honored as the Restaurateur of the Year for the Georgia Restaurant Association’s Crystal of Excellence Award. He was recognized by his alma mater, Johnson & Wales University, as a Distinguished Lecturer and Distinguished Visiting Professor and was recently inducted into the World Association of Cooperative Education Hall of Fame. In 2016, Paul was again honored by Johnson & Wales University as they conferred upon him the degree of Doctor of Business Administration in Restaurant, Food & Beverage Management, honoris causa. Paul met his wife, Laura while attending Johnson & Wales University and they reside in Atlanta and are the proud parents of their three grown daughters: Taylor, Samantha, and Rachele.