Panera Bread Chief Franchise Officer, Hank Simpson, Joins Pizza Studio, The Fastest Growing New Quick-Casual Pizza Brand

LOS ANGELES, Oct 1, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Former Panera Senior Vice President and Chief Franchise Officer, William "Hank" Simpson, joins Pizza Studio  as the COO for the most rapidly growing fast-casual pizza brand in the nation. Simpson's past success as an executive for a quality fast-casual brand is projected to continue as he ushers in growth for Pizza Studio. Pizza Studio currently has 15 units across the country, expecting to double by the end of 2014 and estimated to reach 100 locations nationwide by the end of 2015.

Prior to his position as Senior VP and Chief Franchise Officer at Panera, Hank Simpson filled various important roles. He started at the company as Director of Retail Operations and Joint Venture Partner in 2002. Simpson later served as SVP, Chief Company & Joint Venture Operations Officer as well as Chief Development Officer.

"Pizza Studio is a great concept with strong, experienced leadership that has already proven in a very short period of time its significant potential for growth," said Simpson. "An opportunity such as this presents itself very rarely, and I am excited to be a part of this team."

Simpson's experience in franchise and company growth gives him invaluable knowledge in developing and building emerging fast-casual dining brands. As the new COO, Simpson plans to efficiently increase the number of Pizza Studio locations across the United States. Simpson knows the importance of rapidly expanding the Pizza Studio brand while also maintaining the already existing level of high-quality food and service.

"We are looking forward to having Hank on our team. His experience in the fast-casual industry is proven,"  says Samit Varma, Pizza Studio CEO. "We have the confidence that he will enable our company to continue its accelerated expansion across the country while further optimizing our operational excellence." Pizza Studio is expected to expand to nearly 100 locations across the country by the end of 2015.

The  Pizza Studio Promise
At Pizza Studio, we let you  "Create Your Masterpiece.™" Let your inner chef run wild with an unlimited selection of premium toppings reasonably priced at $7.99 for an 11" pie. We value your business and vow to support your community and the environment by using locally sourced ingredients and 100% recycled products where possible.

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SOURCE Pizza Studio