Incredible Pizza finds new CEO

Marc Simon will begin in mid-September, when current CEO and founder Rick Barsness becomes chairman of the company’s newly created board of directors.

Simon will take over the day-to-day oversight of the executive management team and will focus on boosting franchise sales and finding new investors, according to Barsness.

“I’m kind of the big picture guy,” Barsness said. “We were looking to hire a details guy.”

Simon previously served as vice president for corporate development with McDonald’s Corp. and helped the chain develop a subsidiary eatery, Chipotle Mexican Grill.

After moving to a full-time role with Chipotle, the chain went from zero to 82 units in Chicago and Minneapolis and opened 144 units total in the Midwest. Simon also spent 16 years with Ernst & Young LLP, 11 of which were as a consulting principal for the Midwest region.

Simon’s experience in establishing and building brands in new markets and managing restaurant operations make him abundantly qualified for his new role, Barsness said.

“We wanted somebody that had gone down that road before,” Barsness said.

Incredible Pizza has six stores and agreements for 73 franchise locations. A franchisee recently signed on to open 20 units in Mexico.

The company is based in Tulsa, Okla., and has corporate offices in Springfield.

This story originally appeared in SBJ’s Aug. 16 free e-news Daily Update. Click here to register.