Zaxby’s Hires Mike Nettles as Interim Chief Digital and Technology Officer
Zaxby’s welcomes Mike Nettles as interim chief digital and technology officer (CDTO). Nettles joins Zaxby’s from Papa John’s, where he served as chief operating and growth officer. Nettles is the first CDTO in Zaxby’s 31-year history. He reports directly to founder and CEO Zach McLeroy.
At Papa John’s, Nettles focused on improving customer experience. Prior to that, he worked with Panera Bread as vice president of architecture & IT strategy, where he was responsible for leading the technical design, development and implementation of digital and in-store assets.
“I’ve spent 30 years in the hospitality and retail sectors, and I believe that people are what drive our business,” Nettles said. “I’m eager to leverage Zaxby’s heightened emphasis on digital offerings to grow business across its current and future footprint.”
In his new role with Zaxby’s, Nettles will oversee IT for both corporate and restaurant systems, focusing on store technology, data democratization and centralization, architecture and change management. While Nettles is fluent in technology, he also understands the business side and will ensure that store-level operations are front and center in Zaxby’s digital strategy. Nettles will prioritize the recently revamped loyalty program, Zax Fanz Club.
In November 2020, the QSR announced that Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division (Goldman Sachs) would acquire a significant stake in the company. The partnership supports accelerated growth for Zaxby’s through new sales channels with a guest-focused approach.