TGI Fridays appoints new president of international franchising
This comes amidst a sharp decline in restaurant numbers in the US.
TGI Fridays has appointed Phil Broad as President of TGI Fridays International Franchising, amidst U.S. restructuring following its bankruptcy in November last year.
Based in Dubai, Broad will oversee the brand’s international operations and franchise partnerships, with a focus on accelerating global growth and delivering exceptional guest experiences worldwide.
Broad served as Managing Director of TGI Fridays UK from 1997 to 2000. In addition to his deep understanding of the brand, he has over 30 years of global leadership experience in the food and beverage, hospitality and retail sectors. Throughout his career, he has consistently demonstrated the ability to drive strategic transformation, unlock new markets and deliver high-performance results in culturally diverse and dynamic environments.
TGI Fridays filed for Chapter 11 in the US in November 2024, citing fallout from the pandemic as the primary driver of its financial challenges. The move primarily affected its corporate-owned US locations.
The brand closed numerous outlets, reducing its US footprints to just 85 locations as of April 2025.
Despite the bankruptcy, TGI Fridays continues to operate in the U.S. through a combination of remaining corporate-owned restaurants and franchised locations.
The company has sold several of its restaurants to franchisees, including a sale of nine locations to Mexico-based MERA Corp for $34.5m, which included five high-performing units in the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. Additionally, former CEO Ray Blanchette returned to lead the brand through a new entity, Sugarloaf TGIF Management, aiming to rejuvenate the chain by targeting younger demographics with an updated menu set to launch in May 2025.
