TGI Fridays has announced the appointment of Richard Latham as chief operating officer, effective immediately.
Latham joined the American-inspired restaurant chain in 2022 as regional director for the North West.
He later became national operations director for the brand following a tenure as international country manager for Burger King.
Since his leadership as interim COO, TGI Fridays’ store teams have “excelled in achieving operational excellence while delivering an exceptional guest experience that has set new benchmarks within the industry.”
Speaking on the appointment, Latham said: “It’s a great honour to be part of this team. We have accomplished so much in such a relatively short period time, and it remains a pleasure to work alongside a group of such talented and committed individuals. I feel that there are exciting times ahead and am confident we can build upon these successes. While the first half of the year has been challenging, we can look to the remainder of the year with a great deal of confidence. TGI Fridays continues to be the hallmark brand in terms of the value it places on its people and the service it delivers to its guests. I look forward to building upon this firm foundation.”
Julie McEwan, CEO, TGI Fridays, said: “We are thrilled to welcome Richard into his new role as Chief Operating Officer. His exceptional performance and contributions as interim COO have been invaluable, and we have no doubt that he will continue to excel and lead our company to even greater heights.”
