News

Arby's largest franchisee bolsters executive team to support growth

December 8, 2014

Tulsa, Oklahoma-based United States Beef Corporation, Arby’s largest franchisee, has announced several executive changes to support its expansion plans. Those changes include:

• Co-owner Jeff Davis will transition from his current role as CEO to serve as chairman. Davis, who started the business with his father Bob in 1969, has served US Beef as its CEO since 1995. He is also the chairman of the Arby’s Franchise Association, and will be taking on additional responsibilities in 2015 with the National Restaurant Association.
• John Davis, co-owner and a 39-year veteran of the restaurant industry, has been promoted from president to CEO. Davis began his career with US Beef in 1975 as a restaurant crew member. According to a news release, he has been responsible for the acquisition, construction, and development of hundreds of Arby’s restaurants in the US Beef footprint across eight states.
• Brett Pratt, chief financial officer, has been promoted to president. He is the fourth president of US Beef and the first since the company’s inception who isn’t a family member of the Davis-owned business. Pratt has served US Beef as its CFO since 1995, and has worked for the Davis family as a financial consultant for more than 30 years. He is also the chairman of the ARCOP Board, Arby’s purchasing cooperative, based in Atlanta.
• Lori Pumphrey, VP Finance, has been promoted to CFO. She began her career with US Beef in 1995, and has been directly responsible for developing the accounting and financial business tools for managing the business operations. She was promoted in 2004 to vice president of finance, the release said.
• Bo Davis has been promoted from vice president of operations, to the newly created position of COO. Davis began his career with US Beef in operations in 2005. As COO, he will be responsible for the recruitment, training, and retention of the 7,000-plus workforce in the US Beef system, with a special emphasis on management development for US Beef’s 323 Arby’s restaurants, and the six Taco Bueno franchise restaurants US Beef owns and operates in Northwest Arkansas.