• by Teresa Buyikian , December 5, 2025

GoToFoods and Long John Silver’s have new leadership at the top.

This week Long John Silver’s named Laura Curth Ellis as CMO, overseeing “brand strategy, menu innovation and guest engagement.”

With over two decades of marketing experience, Ellis joined the company most recently from Kentucky Fried Chicken,  where she served as director of retail marketing, focusing on “long-term brand strategy, innovation pipelines and national product launches.”

“Laura brings a proven ability to elevate iconic brands,” said Nate Fowler, chief executive officer at Long John Silver’s, in the announcement. ds “Her strategic vision and leadership will set us up for our next stage of growth by helping us modernize how guests experience Long John Silver’s — from menu innovation to digital storytelling — while staying true to our heritage.”

Earlier in her career, Ellis held marketing roles with Chiquita and Brown-Forman, among others in both the restaurant and CPG categories.

Long John Silver’s recently released a redesigned logo that highlights the addition of chicken to the chain’s offerings.  

Separately, GoTo Foods has tapped Omer Gajial as CEO. Gajial fills the role left vacant by Jim Holthouser, who retires this year after six years in the role.

Gajial joins GoTo most recently from Albertson’s, where he served as chief merchandising and digital officer, leading “initiatives in merchandising, digital strategy, marketing, loyalty and retail media.”

Before Albertson’s, Gajial held leadership roles at technology and retail brands including Amazon, where he managed category development and marketplace operations for North America, and PepsiCo, where he directed global strategy and marketing for major markets that included the Middle East, Africa, South Asia and North America. 

Privately held GoToFoods is the parent company of multiple QSR and fast casual brands, including Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon, McAlister's Deli and Schlotzsky's.