Sonic names new president, management changes

Sonic names new president, management changes
Tags: Drive In, Franchising & Growth, Operations Management
September 8, 2009

Sonic Corp. has announced that Omar Janjua has joined the company as president of its restaurant operating subsidiary, Sonic Restaurants Inc. Previously, Janjua was executive vice president and chief operating officer for Steak 'n Shake Co., where he reported to the CEO and was responsible for the operations of 490 system restaurants, with annual revenues of approximately $700 million.

While with Steak 'n Shake, Janjua successfully developed and integrated programs to drive service execution and enhance personnel development and also worked with senior leadership to plan and implement a financial turnaround plan. Prior to joining Steak 'n Shake, he worked for 18 years with Pizza Hut Inc. in various positions of increasing responsibility, lastly as vice president of company operations overseeing 817 restaurants with annual revenues in excess of $800 million. Janjua's 28-year restaurant career also includes experience at other national quick-service chains.

Janjua holds a master's of business administration degree from Minnesota State University and is a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology with a major in operations management.

Eddie Saroch, who served as president of Sonic Restaurants since May 2008 and has been with Sonic since 1995, has moved to the new position of senior vice president of franchise operations (developing markets). In this new role, Saroch will oversee an increased effort in the delivery of integrated services to franchisees.

Management changes

Additionally, the company announced that Claudio San Pedro, previously treasurer and vice president of investor relations, has been named vice president of investor relations and brand strategies. Keith Jossell, previously vice president of franchise finance, has been named vice president of market strategies.