Atlanta-based GoTo Foods has strengthened its leadership team with two key executive appointments aimed at accelerating digital capabilities and franchise expansion.
The company has named Biplav Misra as its first-ever Chief Digital Officer and Tatiana Lambert as Chief Development Officer, as it sharpens focus on growth, guest experience and unit-level profitability.
The appointments come as GoTo Foods pushes into its next growth phase under CEO Omer Gajial, following a series of recent leadership hires across finance and growth functions. In an official statement, Gajial said: “As GoTo Foods enters its next phase, our priority is clear: disciplined growth that enhances the guest experience, strengthens franchisee returns and delivers stronger unit-level economics across the portfolio.” He added that both leaders will help “sharpen our digital execution and development strategy.”
Misra joins from Albertsons Companies, where he led digital commerce and enterprise transformation initiatives, including automation and the creation of a global capability centre. He previously spent nearly a decade at Amazon, building and scaling marketplace businesses.
In his new role, Misra will build and scale GoTo Foods’ digital ecosystem across off-premises, catering and third-party channels, with a focus on driving traffic, increasing average check size and improving four-wall economics. He will also establish the infrastructure, team and operating model to support digital growth across the company’s seven brands.
Lambert, meanwhile, brings more than two decades of development experience. She most recently served as U.S. Chief Development Officer at Wendy’s, overseeing real estate, franchise development, design and construction, and portfolio optimization. She also held senior global roles at Yum! Brands across KFC and Pizza Hut.
At GoTo Foods, Lambert will lead development strategy across the portfolio, focusing on “disciplined” expansion, market selection and franchise partnerships to drive sustainable, long-term unit growth and stronger returns.
The leadership additions align with the company’s aggressive expansion plans. GoTo Foods has already signed commitments for more than 1,400 franchised units globally, which could take its system from roughly 7,300 units to over 8,700 in the coming years.
The company operates a portfolio of seven largely franchised brands, including Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Jamba and Moe’s Southwest Grill, with more than 7,400 locations across 50 U.S. states and 71 countries.
