David Barr, Chairman of PMTD Restaurants and its affiliates, a multi-unit franchise business operating 39 KFC and Taco Bell restaurants, is Past-Chair of the International Franchise Association. David Barr has a wealth of experience in retail foodservice and franchising. In addition to his role at PMTD Restaurants, David sits on the board of directors of Franworth (development partner of growth stage franchisors), Capriotti’s Sandwich Shops. Chicken Salad Chick, Farm Burger, Domino’s Pizza-China, and Outwest Restaurant Group (franchisee of Outback Steakhouses). Barr previously sat on the board of directors of Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group (owner of premium steakhouses), TITLE Boxing Club (boxing fitness studios), Rita Restaurant Corp. (owner of Don Pablo’s Mexican Restaurants), Bistro Group (franchisee of TGI Friday’s), The Jewellery Group ( the third largest retail jeweler in Australia), Samuels Jewelers, Inc. (the United States’ 7th largest specialty retail jeweler), Famous Brands (owner of Mrs. Fields and TCBY), and Real Mex (owner of Chevy’s and El Toritos).
Barr began his career in Atlanta with Price Waterhouse (1986-1991) and then joined Pizza Hut, Inc. within its finance department (1991-1994). From 1994 to 1998, Barr was the CFO and then the CEO of Great American Cookies, a franchisor and operator of 367 mall based cookie stores. In 1998, Barr, on behalf of the shareholders, sold the Great American Cookies Company to Mrs. Fields.
Barr resides in the Atlanta metropolitan area. He is Past Chairman of the International Franchise Association and sits on the Advisory Board of the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce. In recent years, Barr has been a frequent speaker on Capitol Hill and has met with congressional leaders and White House staff to discuss the impact of laws impacting small businesses and franchising. In addition, Barr has been interviewed on Fox News, Fox Business, CNBC, and Bloomberg, and his experiences have been written about by New York Times and International Business Times. David has also written OpEd pieces for Wall Street Journal.