Pepper Lunch hired Mark Bailey to serve as chief operating officer for the Japanese-born fast-casual chain.

Bailey’s background includes working with such restaurant chains as Mr. Gatti’s Pizza, Chronic Tacos and Pokeworks.

Along with overseeing Pepper Lunch operations, Bailey will focus on the development and management of the company’s first corporate-owned restaurant in North America, and streamlining Pepper Lunch’s supply chain infrastructure as the brand continues its aggressive growth plan.

In addition to Pepper Lunch’s new COO, the company also appointed Jonathan Whiteside as its director of creative and technology.