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. Barsness could not be reached for comment.

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.

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 new chain went from zero to 82 units in Chicago and Minneapolis and opened 144 total units 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.

“With Marc, we found a senior executive who has been where we want to go,” Barsness said in a news release.

Incredible Pizza has six stores and 73 franchise locations, and a franchisee recently signed on to open 20 units in Mexico. The company has headquarters in Springfield and Tulsa, Okla.