Jonathan Fitzpatrick has been named chief executive of Subway, becoming the first permanent CEO under Roark Capital ownership following last year’s leadership transition, effective July 28, as confirmed by Chain Store Age and AP News.
Fitzpatrick, previously leading the parent company of Meineke and Maaco will join Subway with his deep leadership experience in franchise-driven business models. He also served since 2012 as president and CEO of Driven Brands,
also part of the Roark Capital portfolio—the same private equity firm that acquired Subway in 2024. His appointment marks the first permanent CEO hire under Roark’s ownership.
“I’m honored to lead this iconic brand that has been serving guests around the world for 60 years,” Fitzpatrick said. “Subway has a solid foundation built on decades of providing freshly made, better-for-you options with value and convenience.
I’m excited by the opportunity to shape the future of the company, working alongside our valued franchisees and employees to help drive increased sales and franchisee profitability and grow our brand around the world.”
Despite operating over 37,000 locations globally, the sandwich chain has faced mounting competition from fast-casual upstarts such as Jersey Mike’s and Firehouse Subs, whose growing popularity has eroded Subway’s market share.
Subway has been overhauling its menu and format since 2022 in an effort to attract younger consumers and recapture market share, they launched chef-created sandwiches.
The brand’s turnaround efforts continue under Roark, which has been actively expanding its foodservice holdings—most recently acquiring Dave’s Hot Chicken in June 2025 in a deal valued at $1 billion.
Fitzpatrick’s appointment is a move to bolster Subway’s operational execution and franchise relations as it seeks to regain momentum in a competitive US Fastfood market.
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