MOD Pizza Snags Former Starbucks Exec

MOD Pizza, the brand that makes artisan-style pizzas in just minutes, has added a former Starbucks executive to its team.

The Seattle-based chain hired Becky Mulligan, who spent 16 years with Starbucks and more than 25 years total in the restaurant industry, as senior vice president of operations. In this role, she will oversee operations across 420-plus company stores and manage operational standards for MOD Pizza’s 80-plus franchise locations.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Becky to the MOD team and are excited for her to bring her hands-on approach and impressive track record to our field leadership team … We are still in the early chapters of the MOD journey, and Becky is the perfect leader to help us continue to improve our execution to ensure we continue to deliver on our mission to build a brand that helps make a positive social impact in the communities we serve,” says Scott Svenson, co-founder and CEO of MOD Pizza, in a press release.

Most recently, Mulligan served as CEO for AB Wellco where she oversaw three culinary brands—The Little Beet, Little Beet Table and Le Pain Quotidien U.S.—comprised of 76 locations and three commercial kitchens.

Before that, she worked for Starbucks where she led key initiatives, including mobile order and pay, drive-thru innovation and delivery pilot programs. She also oversaw the Starbucks Mercato food program and created an employee development succession program for top field leaders.

MOD Pizza, founded in 2008, reported 2020 system-wide sales of $461 million, which were bolstered by a 275% increase in digital revenue over 2019.