Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Names Collin Donnelly VP of Growth and Development

Shalimar, FL – February 19, 2026 – Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken has appointed Collin Donnelly as Vice President of Growth and Development as the brand celebrates its 60th anniversary. This strategic move underscores Lee’s commitment to accelerating franchise growth and enhancing unit economics.

Donnelly’s Role and Responsibilities

In his new role, Donnelly will collaborate closely with Chief Development Officer Logan Sumner and the field leadership team. His primary focus will be supporting new restaurant openings, strengthening operational processes, and maximizing profitability for franchisees. Donnelly will also oversee initiatives to streamline development processes to support multi-unit growth, according to a press release.

Industry Experience

Ryan Weaver, CEO of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, expressed excitement about Donnelly joining the leadership team, stating his “growth mindset and proven ability to build scalable teams and systems will be instrumental as we continue to grow across existing and emerging markets.”

Donnelly brings extensive experience in multi-unit and franchise operations. Most recently, he served as Vice President of Gym Growth for Crunch Fitness, overseeing construction, new unit openings, learning and development, and talent acquisition across more than 500 locations worldwide as reported by QSR Magazine.

Prior to Crunch Fitness, Donnelly spent ten years with Take 5 Oil Change, where he advanced from a technician to Vice President of Operational Excellence, leading initiatives to improve processes, develop training programs, and drive margin expansion according to QSRweb.

Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken Expansion

As Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken continues to expand across 12 U.S. States and Canada, this appointment highlights the brand’s dedication to sustainable, franchise-driven growth. The company currently operates more than 130 locations as noted in a recent report.

“I’m honored to join Lee’s during such a milestone year and an exciting period of growth,” Donnelly said. “As I join the Famous Family, my focus is simple, continuing to expand our growth sustainably while making it easier for our teams to deliver a world-class experience for our guests while supporting sustainable growth.”