After a 10-year tenure at prominent Atlanta franchisor Focus Brands, Kat Cole is now joining the board of a New York-based pizzeria technology startup, according to a Tuesday announcement.
Cole is the newest board member of Slice, which helps independent pizzerias with data insights, digital marketing, digital business services and other features to help serve digitally minded customers.
Cole previously served as the chief operating officer and president of Focus Brands, the parent company of Cinnabon, Moe’s Southwest Grill, Auntie Annie’s and other restaurant chains. Focus is owned by affiliates of Sandy Springs private equity firm Roark Capital Group.
Cole joined the company in 2010 as the president of Cinnabon, leading the turnaround of the franchise to more than $1 billion in global branded product sales.
Cole left Focus during a leadership shakeup at the end of 2020, which included changes in its executive brand management and marketing leadership in December and a reorganization of its brand structure in September.
Slice CEO and founder Ilir Sela said Cole will help the technology platform scale and grow with her insight. It has a goal of reaching $1 billion in gross merchandise value in 2021, according to the announcement. Slice raised a $43 million Series C round led by KKR in May 2020.
“She’s a powerful operator and change agent with industry-specific experience and a deep understanding of how technology is reshaping restaurants and retail,” Sela said in the announcement.
Cole is also a board member of the HumanCo, a blank check company that invests in health and sustainability brands, and Milk Bar, a New York sweets shop, according to her LinkedIn.
