Paris Baguette Names Mark Mele Chief Development Officer

By: Paris Baguette | 1 Shares 788 Reads

Veteran Franchise Development Executive Joins Growing International Bakery-Café

December 04, 2020 // Franchising.com // NEW YORK, NY - Paris Baguette, an internationally renowned premium bakery-café company, announced that franchise development expert Mark Mele is joining its senior executive team as Chief Development Officer. With more than 30 years of experience in corporate franchise sales and development, Mele will oversee the growing company’s development, design, real estate and construction functions.

“Mark is an accomplished franchise growth leader whose experience working across diverse franchise systems will be invaluable as we expand the Paris Baguette brand throughout the U.S. and map our future growth,” said Darren Tipton, CEO of Paris Baguette America.

Before joining Paris Baguette, Mele was Chief Development Officer for Lightbridge Franchise Co., where he helped the company expand to nearly 100 Lightbridge Academy early childhood education centers. Previously he led franchising efforts for Fierce Brands’ Retro Fitness and Let’s YO brands, overseeing development of over 100 fitness centers and frozen yogurt shops during his tenure.

Earlier in his career, Mele was Vice President of Franchising for Rita’s Italian Ice parent Rita’s Franchise Co., where he established new franchise training, awards and operations systems while helping the company convert numerous company stores to franchise-owned businesses. Before joining Rita’s, Mele worked for nearly a decade in the K-12 Supplemental Education Industry, leading franchising efforts for Huntington Learning Centers, and earlier for Kumon Math & Reading Centers, where over 500 new centers were established while he led franchising for the company.

A Certified Franchise Executive (CFE), Mele began his career at Century 21 Real Estate Corporation, where he spent over 15 years directing franchise sales and development efforts for Century 21 and later at Super 8 Motels, and Carlson Hospitality Worldwide with the Country Inns & Suites brand.

SOURCE Paris Baguette

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