Russell Holland named chief development officer of Zaxbys
Zaxbys appoints Russel Holland as chief development officer to drive aggressive growth strategy.
auto_awesome
Zaxbys has named Russel Holland as its chief development officer to lead its growth strategy, succeeding Mike Mettler. Holland has extensive experience in the QSR sector, previously working with Inspire Brands and Waffle House. The brand aims to open more locations nationally, targeting expansion into markets like New York and Phoenix after recently reaching its 1,000th restaurant milestone.
Why It Matters
This leadership change suggests a strong focus on aggressive growth strategies, which may improve franchisee profitability and unit economics as Zaxbys seeks to capitalize on its recent sales growth.
Zaxby’s has appointed Russell Holland as its new Chief Development Officer (CDO), effective immediately. Holland previously served as the interim CDO since February 2026, following Mike Mettler’s tenure. With nearly two decades of experience in the restaurant industry, he was most recently the Vice President and Head of Real Estate for Inspire Brands, which oversees major chains like Dunkin’ and Buffalo Wild Wings. Prior to that, he spent almost 13 years at Waffle House in various roles related to real estate.
Holland's appointment signifies Zaxby’s commitment to an ambitious growth strategy. The fast-casual chicken chain recently celebrated the opening of its 1,000th restaurant and operates in 23 states. Under Holland’s leadership, the brand aims to accelerate its expansion into significant new markets, including New York, Maryland, Phoenix, and Chicago. Zaxby’s plans to increase the number of restaurant openings in 2026 by utilizing flexible formats, which encompass traditional dine-in, drive-thru-only, and alternative locations like college campuses and military bases.
Zaxby’s growth trajectory has shown promise, with a reported 3.7% increase in footprint in 2025 and sales reaching $2.8 billion, reflecting a 5.2% year-over-year increase. CEO Bernard Acoca praised Holland's proven success in enhancing workflows and fostering profitable growth in various quick-service restaurant (QSR) brands, emphasizing that his leadership style aligns well with Zaxby’s culture. "I am confident in our brand’s ability to continue expanding nationally to share Zaxby’s secret sauce with more guests under Russ’ leadership,” Acoca stated.
