Fridays appoints Julie McEwan as COO
In her new role, she will oversee operations for all Fridays UK sites and will join the company in early March
Fridays, part of newly listed Hostmore plc, has announced the appointment of Julie McEwan as its chief operating officer.
McEwan started her career at Whitbread, spending several years as operations manager for Premier Inn, before joining Spirit Pub Company. At Spirit, she held several senior roles, including leading the Flaming Grill brand and managing its conversion programme, which saw the estate grow from 84 to 146 sites in 18 months.
In 2016, she joined Casual Dining Group (now Big Table Group) as operations director of Las Iguanas and was promoted to brand director in 2019. During this period the company achieved strong results and saw improved customer perception. McEwan was named as one of the top 100 Women to Watch in Hospitality, Travel and Leisure in 2020.
In her new role, she will oversee operations for all Fridays UK sites, ensuring that “quality, simplicity and relevance is at the forefront of everything it delivers” as it embarks on its “ambitious” growth plans. She will join the company in early March.
Fridays said the appointment comes at an “exciting time” for the chain, following the roll out of its new menu to celebrate its heritage. As part of its growth plans, Fridays has also announced a new flagship store opening in Chelmsford this Spring, as well as a “new era” in its UK operations with its first ‘Fridays And Go’ Quick Service Restaurant (‘QSR’) in Dundee in March.
Robert B. Cook, Fridays CEO, said: “I am absolutely delighted to welcome Julie to the Fridays family! She brings a wealth of experience and unrivalled expertise which will be instrumental to our growth plans, as we bring the Fridays feeling to even more people right across the country.”
McEwan added: “I am so excited to be joining such a successful brand with a strong heritage and identity. The Fridays culture is incredibly unique and I am looking forward to being part of its next growth chapter, working alongside exceptionally talented people. The company has ambitious plans, and I cannot wait to get started.”