In late November, Atlanta-based Hooters of America, LLC announced the appointment of Jim Parrish as chief operations officer and Mark Whittle as vice president of North American franchise development. Parrish has been a member of the Hooters of America Executive Committee since April 2013. In his role as COO, he is responsible for U.S. and Canadian operations for the approximately 190 company-owned and franchise locations.

Whittle joined Hooters in June 2013 and is responsible for all aspects of franchise sales, franchise and corporate real estate, strategic growth planning and strategy for new development in the United States and Canada. Both are helping lead the company’s remodeling and expansion initiatives with more than 150 new locations planned within the next five years.

“With their extensive restaurant experience, Jim and Mark have already been instrumental in Hooters growth and remodel strategies,” said Terry Marks, chief executive officer, Hooters of America. “We will continue to refresh Hooters locations with our new contemporary design elements and look forward to fostering even more franchise relationships to advance our iconic brand.” Earlier this year, Hooters unveiled a new contemporary restaurant design with the remodeled Hooters of Kirby, Texas, and the ground-up prototype Hooters of Slidell, Louisiana, just outside of New Orleans.

By the end of the year, the company plans to refresh or remodel a total of 18 locations, with additional plans to refresh more than 120 Hooters locations over the next few years. Hooters of America, LLC is the franchisor and operator of more than 412 Hooters restaurants in 44 states and 27 foreign countries.