News

Villa Restaurant Group makes marketing promotions

Villa Restaurant Group has made changes to its marketing department.

April 7, 2016

Villa Restaurant Group, a multi-brand restaurant operator, franchisor and creator of Villa Italian Kitchen, Green Leaf's Beyond Great Salads, Bananas Smoothies & Frozen Yogurt, South Philly Cheesesteaks & Fries, Far East Asian Fire, Mo' Burger, and other emerging QSR brands, has made changes to its marketing department, reorganizing the team into two divisions, and promoting key employees, according to a company press release. Villa has tapped two employees to co-lead all brand marketing, communications and digital marketing efforts.

Leslie Chinea has been promoted to director of marketing and will oversee all brand marketing for Villa's QSR concepts. Chinea, who has been with Villa since 2011, has more than two decades of marketing experience, with expertise in brand building, events, partnerships, national and local marketing campaigns, sales driving programs, digital, collateral development, social media, new product development and more. Before coming to Villa, she held positions at Gannett Company Inc, EMI North America and Baker & Taylor Inc.

Mimi Wunderlich has been promoted to director of communications and digital marketing strategy. She is responsible for Villa Restaurant Group's corporate efforts and QSR concepts. In her new role, Wunderlich will have a special focus on digital marketing strategy, including social media, overall communications for the company and public relations. Wunderlich, who has been with Villa Restaurant Group since 2013, has more than 20 years of experience in sales and marketing, with knowledge in strategic development, digital and social media marketing, brand management, project management, event planning, public relations, partnerships and more. Prior to Villa, Mimi held positions at American Golf, Republic Pictures and The Regan Group, among others.   

"We are truly excited to announce these promotions and strategic reorganization within our marketing team," said Andrew Steinberg, executive vice president of Corporate Business, Villa Restaurant Group. "As we continue to expand our business and build our brands, implementing two marketing divisions will allow us to streamline the process and give us the time to focus and commit to each upcoming initiative for our QSR concepts. We are confident that with Leslie and Mimi at the helm of our marketing efforts for each division, we will continue to see tremendous growth and development in the future."

Other advancements of within Villa's marketing team include Andrea Carella, promoted to brand manager, as well as Lauren Liuzzi as communications and digital marketing coordinator. Additionally, as part of this strategic reorganization, more positions will soon be added to the teams, including a marketing coordinator and an analyst, whose main focus will be organizing and interpreting data to help with effective decision making.