CEO Monthly Issue 3 2019

CEO MONTHLY / ISSUE 3 2019 5 , Global Accounting Network (GAN), an international boutique staffing and recruiting company for finance and accounting professionals, has opened its first U.S. office in Atlanta. GAN helps experienced finance and accounting professionals around the world develop their careers by matching them with challenging, rewarding and well-targeted permanent and in- terim employment opportunities in such industries as real estate, manufacturing and technology. “Bringing our expertise to the United States and establishing a stateside home in Atlanta is a timely step for Global Accounting Network,” said GAN Founding Partner and CEO Adrian O’Con- nor. “We are delighted to be ex- panding our proven business models that have been success- ful helping candidates across the country and beyond secure exceptional career opportunities.” The London-based recruiting agency chose Atlanta in large part for its booming FINTECH market, as well as having the third-high- est concentration of Inc. 5000 fast-growing privately-owned businesses. According to O’Connor, GAN has grown 40 percent year over year in 2017-18 in a market that, over- all, has grown in single figures. It has a 98 percent success rate on retained searches and a 1 percent fallout rate from placed candidates, as compared to the market average of 9 percent. “As a business that gets paid upon successful placement, that shows we are beating the competition time and time again,” he said. O’Connor attributes his compa- ny’s success to its commitment to proactively find candidates’ roles and assignments with companies whose culture, needs and goals align with their desired career as- pirations. “In a market full of sales people, we manage expectations, make reasonable commitments and go all out to deliver them,” O’Connor added. Smoothie King, the world’s leading smoothie brand, has named restaurant industry veteran Rebecca Miller as its new chief marketing officer to support its fast growth, an upcoming rebrand and strategy for the Clean Blends initiative. Her first official day with the company was Feb. 25. Before joining Smoothie King, Miller served as senior vice president of marketing for On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, the largest Mexican restaurant in the United States. She previously spent nine years in various brand marketing and product innovation leadership roles with Pizza Hut, Inc. “Rebecca has a great deal of tal- ent and experience engaging and working with franchisees, which make up most of our system,” said Smoothie King CEO Wan Kim. “Her leadership style will position us for marketing success as we continue in our rapid growth phase and the ongoing focus on clean eating.” Smoothie King passed the 1,000-store milestone in 2018, Successful London- Based Recruiting Agency Makes Entry into U.S. Market Restaurant industry veteran RebeccaMiller joined leading smoothie brand Feb. 25 Global accounting network chooses Atlanta for its U.S. home base. opening more stores last year than ever in its history. In 2019, Smoothie King also continues expanding its industry-leading Clean Blends innovation that makes smoothies more nutritious with more whole fruits and veg- gies, no artificial colors, flavors or preservatives, and zero grams of added sugar in many options, with the goal of becoming an integral part of guests’ health and fitness journeys. “I look forward to helping Smoothie King further its mission to inspire guests to lead healthy, active lifestyles, while supporting growth and franchisee success,” said Miller. “Wan and the team have such a clear vision for this brand, and I am eager to help realize it at both the corporate and local levels.” Miller holds a BBA in Marketing from the University of Oklaho- ma’s Price College of Business. She remains actively involved in the school’s JCPenney Leader- ship Program and has served as a guest lecturer for the Price College of Business for more than 10 years.