Industry veteran becomes vice president of company and franchise operations.

Fast-casual Mediterranean concept Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill promoted Bob Bafundo to vice president of company and franchise operations from director of franchise development and operations.

In his new role Bafundo will continue to focus on top level operational practices and expanding Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill's network of franchisees. (To read FE&S' chain profile on Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, click here.)

Bafundo began his career as a restaurant manager and moved through the operations ranks into positions such as senior vice president of franchising/development and senior vice president of operations for Rax Restaurants, Inc. in Columbus, Ohio. He also served as senior director of operations for KFC National Management Company in Atlanta, and later as senior vice president of operations for Back Yard Burgers, Inc. in Nashville, Tenn. Bafundo also was a franchisee before joining Garbanzo in 2009.