Executive Spotlight: Greg Flynn, Founder & CEO of Flynn Group (2027)
Greg Flynn is the Founder and CEO of Flynn Group, a San Francisco-based franchise operator. Recent coverage also calls him its chairman. The company runs franchised locations of Applebee's, Taco Bell, Panera Bread, Arby's, Pizza Hut, Wendy's and Planet Fitness, and in late 2025 signed a development deal for 160 7 Brew coffee stores.
This page covers public professional information only, drawn from trade press and the International Franchise Association's profile of him.
Current role and company
The International Franchise Association's profile lists Greg Flynn as Founder, Chairman and CEO of Flynn Group and Flynn Properties. Restaurant Dive in November 2025 likewise called him founder, chairman and CEO of Flynn Group. Franchise Times in 2024 described Flynn Group as based in San Francisco and as the largest U.S.-based franchise operator, and said it took its current name in 2023, after its first non-restaurant purchase, from Flynn Restaurant Group.
- CompanyFlynn Group, San Francisco, California.
- TitleFounder, Chairman and CEO, per the IFA and Restaurant Dive.
- Founded1999, per Franchise Times.
- BrandsApplebee's, Taco Bell, Panera Bread, Arby's, Pizza Hut, Wendy's, Planet Fitness and 7 Brew.
Career path
- Flynn Properties. The IFA says the commercial real estate investor, which also owns hotels, was founded in 1994.
- Flynn Group. Franchise Times says he founded the franchise business in 1999. It began as Flynn Restaurant Group and became Flynn Group in 2023.
- Education. The IFA lists a degree from Brown University, an MA in American History from Yale University and an MBA from Stanford Graduate School of Business.
- Industry roles. The IFA says he serves on the boards of the National Restaurant Association and the IFA, and that he was inducted into the IFA Hall of Fame in 2026.
What he is known for
- Multi-brand franchising. Flynn Group operates Applebee's, Taco Bell, Panera Bread, Arby's, Pizza Hut and Wendy's restaurants, according to Franchise Times and the IFA.
- Pizza Hut. Franchise Times reported that in 2021 the company bought 937 units from NPC International and became the largest U.S. Pizza Hut franchisee. Restaurant Dive said its Pizza Hut system passed 1,000 stores in 2025.
- Planet Fitness. Its first non-restaurant acquisition was Alder Partners, a 37-unit Planet Fitness franchisee, which closed in November 2023, per Franchise Times.
- Australia. Franchise Times reported that Flynn Group bought Pizza Hut Australia, then about 270 stores, and holds a master franchise agreement to develop 200 Wendy's locations there over a decade.
- 7 Brew and Flynn Growth. Restaurant Dive reported on November 3, 2025 that Flynn Group signed a 160-store development agreement with 7 Brew as the launch of Flynn Growth, a division for earlier-stage brands.
Leadership style and philosophy
Speaking to the International Franchise Association convention in February 2024, as reported by Franchise Times, Flynn responded to sale rumors by saying, "Just for the record, I'm not selling and we're not going anywhere." He described a recapitalization as being like "a bank refinancing" and said it was the company's sixth in 25 years.
On the Flynn Growth launch, Restaurant Dive quoted him saying the company has historically focused exclusively on premier mature brands and is now applying its "world-class development and operational expertise" to earlier-stage concepts. In the same convention remarks he said it is his responsibility as a franchise leader to advocate for franchisors and franchisees.
Key numbers
Figures about the company, not Greg Flynn personally, with the period shown. They come from the IFA profile and press reports and may reflect company statements.
- Sales, 2023About $4.7 billion in total annual sales, per Franchise Times (2024).
- Locations, November 2025More than 2,900 franchised locations, per Restaurant Dive.
- Scale, IFA profile (2026)More than 3,000 units, over $5.0 billion in sales and more than 78,000 employees across 44 U.S. states and 3 countries.
- 7 Brew commitment160 stores, announced in late 2025, per Restaurant Dive.
What to watch next
Worth tracking: how quickly Flynn Group builds out its 160 7 Brew stores, whether Flynn Growth adds other emerging brands, and how its Planet Fitness and Pizza Hut Australia businesses develop.
Questions people ask
Who is Greg Flynn?
He is the Founder and CEO of Flynn Group, a San Francisco franchise operator; the IFA and Restaurant Dive also call him chairman.
What brands does Flynn Group operate?
Applebee's, Taco Bell, Panera Bread, Arby's, Pizza Hut, Wendy's and Planet Fitness, plus a 160-store development agreement for 7 Brew.
When was Flynn Group founded?
Franchise Times says Greg Flynn founded it in 1999. It was called Flynn Restaurant Group until 2023.
Why did Flynn Restaurant Group change its name?
Franchise Times reported that it dropped "restaurant" after buying Planet Fitness franchisee Alder Partners, its first non-restaurant acquisition.
What is Flynn Growth?
Restaurant Dive reported it as a new Flynn Group division for scaling earlier-stage brands, launched with the 7 Brew agreement.
Is Flynn Group for sale?
In February 2024 Flynn told an IFA audience, "I'm not selling and we're not going anywhere," per Franchise Times.
Sources
- International Franchise Association: Greg Flynn · Title, career, education, roles, scale, headshot
- Franchise Times: Greg Flynn, I'm not selling and we're not going anywhere (Feb 2024) · Founding year, name change, recapitalization, quotes
- Franchise Times: Pizza Hut Australia, Planet Fitness mark next stage for Flynn Group (2024) · Brands, 2023 sales, Pizza Hut, Planet Fitness, Australia
- Restaurant Dive: 7 Brew, Flynn Group strike 160-store development deal (Nov 2025) · 7 Brew deal, Flynn Growth, location count, quotes
- Restaurant Finance & Development Conference: Greg Flynn, CEO, Flynn Group (2024) · Title and company description
Facts were read from the linked pages on October 31, 2026, partly through a fetch tool that returns summaries, so confirm details on the original pages. The hero photo is the headshot from Greg Flynn's profile on the International Franchise Association website, shown on a blurred background; the original photographer is not stated there. This page covers public professional information only.
Top photo: International Franchise Association (franchise.org/people/greg-flynn); original photographer not stated