HMSHost has named industry veteran Joe Thornton as its new executive vice president and chief operating officer, overseeing the operations of more than 1,700 food and beverage locations in North America, as well as culinary, supply chain, and marketing and communications.
Thornton comes to HMSHost from Jamba Juice, where he was chief operating officer, leading all field and headquarter functions related to operations, operations services and training, as well as supporting franchise owners across the country. Prior to that role, Thornton worked with Starbucks for 11 years, including as senior vice president, where he led the operation of 2,400 company-operated stores and 40,000 employees.
Thornton is also actively involved in promoting diversity across the workplace. He’s given keynote speeches on the topic of leadership in the community and recently authored his first book, “The Power Of Or.”
“I am excited for Joe to join the HMSHost executive team as our new COO,” says HMSHost president and CEO Steve Johnson. “He brings decades of leadership experience and a deep understanding of food and beverage that will further HMSHost’s position as innovators in the dining industry and be an invaluable asset for our strategic initiatives. Together, we’ll optimize our success in the rapidly evolving world of travel dining.”
