CHICAGO — Foxtrot has appointed former Drybar chief executive officer and Taco Bell chief financial officer Liz Williams as the urban, upscale convenience-store retailer’s new president and CFO, effective June 7.
Williams is a strategic operations executive known for growing contemporary businesses, including Taco Bell International and DryBar, Foxtrot said. In this role, Williams will be responsible for overseeing the operations, finance, strategy, real estate, human resources, supply chain and growth teams.
Williams joins Foxtrot “at a time of tremendous growth,” the company said, as the brand plans to open 50 stores in the next two years, including entrance into Austin, Texas. “As a seasoned operational executive leading cult-favorite brands, she will accelerate Foxtrot’s retail expansion with a focus on driving customer experience and operational excellence every step of the way.”
She will also spearhead operations as the brand continues to evolve its culinary offerings across all dayparts, including the launch of pizza and a new PM cafe program while implementing new inventory and delivery operations that improve Foxtrot’s ability to deliver consistent execution that delights customers, it said.
Williams was CEO of Drybar, a chain of more than 150 hair salons based in Brentwood, Calif. At Taco Bell, the quick-service restaurant chain owned by Yum Brands, Louisville, Ky., she held positions including president of international, CFO, with responsibility for e-commerce and information technology, vice president of strategy and finance and Yum Brands' senior director of corporate strategy.
Chicago-based Foxtrot is a “modern convenience store marrying in-store discovery with the convenience of rapid 30-minute delivery and 5-minute pickup.”
Earlier this year, Foxtrot announced that the company closed $100 million in Series C funding, bringing total funds raised to $160 million. This investment will enable the company to reach its goal of opening the 50 new locations over the next two years. Currently, Foxtrot operates 18 stores in Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C., and Virginia and will make its debut in Austin, Texas this year. In 2023 and beyond, the company will continue expansion in its current regions and new markets, with eyes on New York, Nashville and Miami.
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