Staffing

Focus Brands names SVP of Corporate Communications

Focus Brands has hired Dawn Ray as its first SVP of Corporate Communications. Provided

August 4, 2020

Focus Brands, the parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, Jamba, Moe's Southwest Grill, McAlister's Deli and Schlotzsky's, is adding to its executive leadership team, hiring Dawn Ray as its first SVP of Corporate Communications. She'll lead strategic corporate communications and trade public relations and communications for franchise sales for Focus Brands.

"We are thrilled to welcome Dawn to our Executive Leadership Team at Focus Brands," Jim Holthouser, CEO of Focus Brands, said in a company press release. "Dawn's business acumen and leadership in communications and public relations for some of the world's most well-known brands will be an asset to the company as we engage our stakeholders and prospects in new and evolving markets."

Most recently, Ray was senior vice president for Burson Cohn & Wolfe Memphis, one of the world's largest full-service global communications agencies, where she served as primary senior account lead for FedEx Global Media Go-to-Market integrated communications strategies, U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Navy Recruiting Command. During her time with another company, Hilton, she led brand communications and public relations campaigns for Embassy Suites, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn and launched two of the most successful hotel brands in the company's 100-year history — Curio Collection and Canopy by Hilton — according to the release.

Ray has also served as vice president of Corporate Communications and Marketing at Greystar Real Estate Partners, formerly EdR Collegiate Housing) and director for strategic and executive communications for Methodist Lebonheur Healthcare, one of the largest non-profit healthcare systems in the U.S.

Atlanta-based Focus Brands, through its affiliate brands, is the franchisor and operator of more than 6,000 restaurants, cafes, ice cream shops and bakeries in the United States and over 50 foreign countries.