First Watch Restaurant Group Appoints Two Financial Management Executives to Board

Two financial management executives have been appointed to the board of east Manatee County-based First Watch Restaurant Group, bringing their extensive expertise to the popular breakfast, brunch, and lunch chain.

Charley Jemley, who has held leadership positions at Yum! Brands and Starbucks, as well as serving as the chief financial officer at Dutch Bros. Coffee, has been appointed to the board and will chair the audit committee. Michael Fleisher, who was the chief financial officer for Wayfair Inc. and has held executive positions at Warner Music Group and Gartner Inc., will also join the board effective November 1.

“We are pleased to welcome Charley and Michael to our board of directors, and we look forward to leaning on their extensive financial management expertise as we continue to scale the First Watch brand,” said Ralph Alvarez, chairman of the board for First Watch.

Jemley and Fleisher will join existing board members Ralph Alvarez, Irene Chang Britt, Tricia Glynn, William Kussel, Stephanie Lilak, Dave Paresky, Jostein Solheim, and Chris Tomasso on the First Watch board.

Headquartered in University Park, First Watch currently has 538 restaurants and more than 130 locations in development. The addition of Jemley and Fleisher to the board signals the company’s commitment to continued growth and success in the competitive restaurant industry.
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