About Paul

Paul Damico is an accomplished and well-respected executive with more than 40 years of foodservice experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Paul’s career includes top leadership roles in premium organizations including Host Marriott, FoodBrand, LLC, Creative Host, SSP America, FOCUS Brands portfolio of restaurants, Naf Naf Middle Eastern Grill.  In August of 2021 he was named Chief Executive Officer of Experiential Brands, parent to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop and in 2023 facilitated the sale of Fuzzy’s to Dine Brands Global where he led the sale of the company and brand integration into Dine Brands Global.

Paul is a seasoned franchisor executive. In 2008, Paul was recruited to Moe’s Southwest Grill (a Roark Capital/Focus Brands company) as President of the organization. Over a six-year period he grew the company from 200 locations to 680, leading the industry in new restaurant openings and culinary development. After six years with Moe’s, Paul was promoted to Group President, by FOCUS Brands, and was responsible for the oversight of McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwest Grill, and Schlotzsky’s Deli. In early 2016, his role expanded to encompass all six FOCUS Brands, including Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Carvel Ice Cream and Cinnabon World Famous Cinnamon Rolls. As FOCUS Brands’ President of North America, Paul oversaw a $2.6 Billion-dollar foodservice company made up of more than 5,000 restaurants. In 2017 Paul was tapped by Roark to lead its startup concept Naf Naf Middle Eastern Gril as CEO and prepare the brand for growth through franchising. In 2020 he was recruited as CEO to lead Global Franchise Group, made up of over 2,000 restaurant locations under the brands of Great American Cookie, Marble Slab Creamery, Hot Dog On A Stick, Pretzel Maker, and Round Table Pizza. In early 2021 he successfully sold GFG to Fat Brands, a publicly traded restaurant company for $442 million dollars. Following the sale of Global Franchise Group, he partnered with Atlanta based NRD Capital and was named CEO of Experiential Brands, a new restaurant holding company with Fuzzy’s Taco Shop as the first portfolio brand.

Paul and his wife reside in Atlanta and are the proud parents of their three grown daughters.