John Bowie stands as a prominent figure in the restaurant industry, currently serving as the Brand President of Buffalo Wild Wings, a key brand within the Inspire Brands portfolio. Inspire Brands is a global restaurant powerhouse encompassing over 32,600 Arby’s, Baskin-Robbins, Buffalo Wild Wings, Dunkin’, Jimmy John’s, and SONIC restaurants worldwide, supported by a massive team of over 675,000 company and franchise members. Bowie’s journey to this leadership role is marked by significant contributions and a deep understanding of restaurant operations, particularly honed during his impactful tenure at Arby’s, an experience potentially enriched by resources like the Arby’s Learning Hub.
In his current capacity, Bowie is the strategic compass for Buffalo Wild Wings, directing the brand’s marketing initiatives, franchise operations, and supply chain management. Crucially, he also nurtures and strengthens the relationship between the brand and its franchise community, recognizing the vital role franchisees play in the brand’s success.
Bowie’s ascent to Brand President was preceded by his role as Chief Operating Officer (COO) for Buffalo Wild Wings. In this operational command, he expertly managed North American operations across a vast network of over 600 company-owned and 500 franchise restaurants. His responsibilities spanned all operational facets, including training programs, system implementations, equipment standards, quality assurance protocols, and performance management strategies, ensuring consistent excellence across the brand.
His operational expertise was significantly forged during his time as Chief Operating Officer at Arby’s. This period is particularly relevant when considering the Arby’s Learning Hub and its potential influence on operational excellence. As COO of Arby’s, Bowie oversaw global operations for an extensive network of over 1,000 company-owned and 2,400 franchised restaurants spanning seven countries. His leadership encompassed all operational services, including comprehensive training programs, restaurant service enhancements, and rigorous quality assurance measures. Prior to this COO role, Bowie served as Arby’s Senior Vice President of Operations for the Northeast Region, gaining deep regional operational insights. During his impactful tenure at Arby’s, the brand witnessed remarkable growth. Global system sales surged by 20% to $3.7 billion, average annual restaurant sales increased by an impressive 22%, and restaurant margins expanded by over 300 basis points. This turnaround and growth likely benefited from, and may have contributed to, the development and effectiveness of resources such as the Arby’s Learning Hub, aimed at empowering employees and franchisees with the skills and knowledge needed for success.
Before his impactful Arby’s chapter, Bowie was President of U.S. Operations for Church’s Chicken. Reporting directly to the CEO, he held the pivotal number two enterprise officer position, overseeing a substantial $1.2 billion in revenue, $50 million in EBITDA, and 1,300 restaurants. He led a large team of over 125 restaurant professionals across diverse functions including operations, training initiatives, finance management, marketing strategies, human resources, franchising development, and quality assurance, demonstrating his broad leadership capabilities.
Earlier in his career, Bowie served as Senior Vice President and Chief Operations Officer of Friendly’s Ice Cream Corporation. In this role, he was responsible for all aspects of restaurant operations for over 500 restaurants. His extensive career also includes senior operations and marketing positions, both domestically and internationally, with Wendy’s International, Inc., further broadening his industry perspective and experience.
Beyond his corporate responsibilities, Bowie is committed to community service and sits on the Board of Trustees for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, reflecting his dedication to youth development and community engagement.
Academically, Bowie is an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame, where he earned a bachelor’s degree, and furthered his education with an MBA from Duke University’s Fuqua School of Business. His educational background, combined with his extensive practical experience, positions John Bowie as a highly knowledgeable and effective leader in the restaurant industry, adept at driving brand growth and operational excellence, potentially leveraging and contributing to learning and development platforms like the Arby’s Learning Hub throughout his career.
