Subway CEO John Chidsey Announces Retirement After Five-Year Tenure

John Chidsey, Subway’s first CEO from outside the founding DeLuca family, will step down at the end of 2024 after a transformative five-year tenure, according to a recent press release. 

Chidsey, 62, who previously led Burger King, was appointed in 2019 and navigated Subway through store closures, brand revitalization efforts, and a significant ownership transition when the chain was sold to Roark Capital for $9.6 million earlier this year. He will remain involved with Subway as a consultant, focusing on international expansion. Carrie Walsh, Subway's president for Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), will take over as interim CEO on January 1, 2025, while the company searches for a permanent successor.

During his leadership, Chidsey oversaw the remodeling of 20,000 restaurants and the rollout of significant menu innovations, including new sandwich lines and the addition of deli slicers, which cost the company over $80 million. Subway also launched the “Fresh Forward 2.0” initiative, a global redesign aimed at enhancing digital operations and customer experiences with self-serve kiosks and updated décor. This program is set to debut globally in 2025, with locations already planned across the U.S. and international markets such as the U.K., Germany and Australia.

Chidsey’s tenure also prioritized global growth, focusing on recruiting experienced multi-unit operators and master franchisees, leading to commitments for over 10,000 new restaurants. 

Since 2022, Subway has opened 1,500 international locations, with nearly half of its system's 37,100 units now operating outside the U.S. Despite significant domestic store closures — over 7,000 since 2015 — Subway remains a global powerhouse, ranked No. 7 on the Franchise Times Top 400, generating $20.5 billion in global sales last year.

Read the press release here. 

Every great franchisee had help buying a franchise. Want to learn more about how 1851 helps franchisees find the right franchise opportunity? Visit www.1851growthclub.com and start your journey.