Cousins Maine Lobster Announces Key Leadership Changes

Cousins Maine Lobster
Published: May 17th, 2024

May 17, 2024 // Franchising.com // Portland, ME - Cousins Maine Lobster Co-Founders, Jim Tselikis and Sabin Lomac, announced today a series of leadership changes in support of their plans for expansion, anchored by the appointment of Shaun Higgins as President.

• Shaun Higgins, President - Shaun joined Cousins Maine Lobster in 2014 as the Head of Franchise Development, charged with establishing the brands’ capabilities to launch the franchise business. For more than ten years Shaun has taken on increasing responsibilities, driving various aspects of new unit development, franchise development, franchise operations, finance, and supply chain. His leadership has been integral to the brand, with his efforts enabling CML to drive the realization of many successful, long-term franchisees who have driven expansion of new units across new markets. Lomac shared, “Shaun has been an integral part of our CML family and leadership team from the signing of our very first franchisee. He has selflessly led the brand through years of sustained growth and demonstrates the passion and tenacity that will lead us through our continued expansion. We are appreciative of his partnership, and we are so excited for him as he takes on this expanded role.”
• Marion Thomas, Senior Vice President of Marketing - Marion, a seasoned marketing and business executive with over twenty years of experience, joined CML in April 2024. Tasked with spearheading the company's marketing strategy, her focus lies in enhancing the customer experience and amplifying brand messages to fuel growth. With a history of driving transformation in diverse settings, including startups and industry disruptors like Wayfair, ZipCar and VistaPrint, Marion’s mission is to drive measurable growth for new and existing units, anchored in customer success. Her leadership aims to capitalize on CML's momentum fueled by its high off-premise customer engagement and multi-faceted digital channels, ensuring a cohesive and impactful marketing approach that drives incremental reach with the brand's expanding customer base.
• Lindsay Herberger, Director of Franchise Development - As the brand has solidified growth plans, they’ve also been working to build further development capability, driving the hiring of Lindsay Herberger as Director, Franchise Development. Lindsay joins Cousins Maine Lobster with more than eight years of franchising acumen from The Wendy’s Company. Lindsay’s vast restaurant experiences have traversed Operations, Training, Franchising and Development. During her tenure, she played an integral role in driving and enabling net new unit growth through the recruitment of new franchisees in the US and abroad. In her new role, Lindsay will spearhead efforts to launch new franchise recruitment and onboarding programs that will further support CML’s vast expansion plans.

The appointment of Shaun Higgins was announced internally in the back half of 2023, following the hiring of CML’s Head of Development, Angela Coppler. The executive team also includes CML Chief of Operations, Mike Carmody, and Head of Branding & Digital, Jameson Lyons.

SOURCE Cousins Main Lobster