Focus Brands' New CEO

Focus Brands announced that Jim Holthouser will join the company as Chief Executive Officer, effective immediately. He succeeds Steve DeSutter, who is retiring after serving as  CEO for nearly six years.

Holthouser brings more than 30 years of experience in worldwide brand development, concept innovation, franchise management, and digital marketing. He most recently served as Executive Vice President, Global Brands, Marketing and Loyalty at Hilton Worldwide, where he was responsible for Hilton’s entire portfolio of 13 brands with over 5,000 hotels across 105 countries, generating annual revenues of $36 billion. He spent more than 20 years at Hilton in various strategic and brand management roles and has a proven track record of spearheading the launch, development, and repositioning of leading consumer brands.

Focus Brands is the parent company of Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, JambaMoe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli, Schlotzsky’s, and Seattle’s Best Coffee (in certain military bases and in certain international markets).