Juice It Up! tapped Carlo Verdugo to serve as director of operations and business development. In his new role, Verdugo will oversee all aspects of operations including franchise development, real estate, training, store design and construction.

Verdugo restaurant industry experience includes serving in various leadership roles for such national chains as Jack in the Box and Jamba, where he served as the senior director of global growth.

Verdugo’s joining the chain comes shortly after Juice It Up! promoted company veteran Susan Taylor to president. Like Verdugo, Taylor’s career includes a stint at Jamba.

Earlier this summer, Juice It Up! introduced a newly designed flagship store in Costa Mesa, Calif. In addition to serving as a space for research and development, the unit’s design uses graphics to celebrate the chain’s core menu items of smoothies, acai and other superfruit bowls, and blended and fresh raw juices.