James Walker in

James Walker

Captain · DISC type SD
Chief Executive Officer at Frisch's Restaurants, Inc.
📍 New York City Metropolitan Area, United States

James Walker is the CEO of Frischs Restaurants, bringing over 30 years of senior management experience from iconic brands like Subway, Cinnabon, and Nathans Famous. He holds an MBA from Duke University and has expertise in brand growth and foodservice innovation. Colleagues describe him as a strategic, results-driven, and entrepreneurial leader.

Beyond his executive roles, James has a keen interest in global business, having completed a program in Leading & Managing Globally at Yale. He holds a WSET Level 2 certification, indicating a sophisticated knowledge of wine and spirits. He also shows an interest in philanthropy through organizations like Autism Speaks.

Unique fact: James was the CEO of an ultrafast grocery startup in New York City before taking the helm at the 75-year-old Frischs brand.

Read the full overview →
Experience
25 Years
Current Role
Chief Executive Officer
Job Level
Leadership
Location
New York City Metropolitan Area, United States
Personality Overview

How James shows up

Long-Term Thinker
Dynamic But Sincere
Decisive But Calm

Reading between the lines and seeing beyond your words comes naturally to them. They exhibit a rare combination of being result-oriented but patient at the same time. They are very professional in their approach and can weigh multiple perspectives together.

Priorities

Topics James cares about

Restaurant Growth
His career is defined by scaling major food brands like Subway and Nathan's Famous, and he is now focused on growing the iconic Frisch's Restaurants brand.
Foodservice Innovation
He was instrumental in launching Subway's delivery program and holds certifications in AI and Disruptive Strategy from MIT and Harvard, showing a focus on modernization.
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Career

Work history

9-2022
Chief Executive Officer
Frisch's Restaurants, Inc.
1-2022
Board Member
NYC Hospitality Alliance
6-2021
Member Society of Fellows
The Culinary Institute of America
11-2021 - 9-2022
Chief Executive Officer
Buyk
2019 - 11-2021
Senior Vice President, Restaurants
Nathan's Famous, Inc.
In the press

Media appearances

No media yetWe could not find public media appearances for this person.
Education
2008 - 2010
MBA
Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business
2022 - 2022
Social Media Strategy: Creating Engagement
MIT Sloan School of Management
2019 - 2019
Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy
MIT Sloan School of Management
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

S

Steadiness (S)

Steadiness (S) reflects the degree to which a person is likely to focus on cooperation, support and taking everyone along. Those scoring high tend to be consistent and calm.

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