The barbeque brand has a new president and chief marketing officer.
Barbeque restaurant franchise Sonny’s BBQ has made a pair of key executive promotions to close the year.
The company announced that it has promoted George McAllan to president while Katie Love has been named as the brand’s new chief marketing officer. Sonny’s BBQ said that McAllan and Love will lead the execution of a multi-year growth plan aimed at improving key metrics such as franchisee profitability and brand resonance.
“George and Katie represent the very best of what makes Sonny’s BBQ special – a deep commitment to our franchisees, our guests, and the communities we serve. George’s proven track record of driving operational excellence and franchisee profitability, combined with Katie’s innovative approach to brand modernization and guest engagement, perfectly position Sonny’s BBQ for future proofing growth and expansion,” said Jamie Yarmuth, CEO of Sonny’s BBQ.
McAllan joined Sonny’s BBQ as chief growth officer in November 2024. He brings decades of experience working as both a franchisor and franchisee – including five years as chief operations officer with two different franchise groups where he led up to 350 restaurants during his tenure – and various roles with Dunkin’ Brands, where he oversaw up to 4,000 restaurants internationally and domestically.
Love previously served as vice president of marketing and director of brand management for Sonny’s BBQ. During her more than a decade-long tenure, Love spearheaded initiatives that modernized the brand’s identity, grew guest loyalty and digital channels from the ground up, and deepened community impact. As chief marketing officer, Love will work closely with Sonny’s BBQ’s team of restaurant marketing experts, leading brand strategy, guest experience, and marketing innovation.
Founded in 1968 in Gainesville, Florida, Sonny’s BBQ has nearly 100 locations in 8 states in the Southeast. The company noted that it plans to build a test kitchen within the next 12 months, which will allow for further culinary exploration of fan-favorite innovations such as Pecan Pie Egg Rolls, as well as expand its dedicated culinary team.
“Over the past year, Sonny’s has made incredible strides, expanding our customer base through exciting new marketing campaigns, improved franchisee operations and philanthropy. Now, with George at the helm as president and Katie as chief marketing officer, we’ll set new standards for what a BBQ brand can accomplish,” added Yarmuth. “Their leadership has been and will continue to be instrumental in expanding our footprint while staying true to the spirit of hospitality and kindness established by our late founder, Floyd “Sonny” Tillam, and that makes our brand so special. The future of Sonny’s BBQ has never looked brighter.”
To learn more about franchise opportunities with Sonny’s BBQ, visit https://sonnysbbqfranchise.com/.
