Exec plans to launch a marketing consultancy
By Candice Choi, Food Industry Writer
NEW YORK (AP) --Subway's chief marketing officer Tony Pace is leaving the company to start a marketing consultancy.
The news comes nearly two weeks after the home of the chain's long-time pitchman Jared Fogle was raided by federal and state authorities. Pace said in a phone interview Monday his departure is unrelated to that matter and that he had been talking with the company about the move for "awhile." Subway did not immediately provide any other details beyond confirming the move.
Pace said his departure from Subway is slated to be effective Sept. 30 and that the company is conducting a search for a replacement. He said he will continue as chairman of the Association of National Advertisers. He joined Subway in 2006 and was named its chief marketing officer in 2012.
On July 7, Fogle's home was raided by federal and state authorities. Later that same day, Subway said it mutually agreed with Fogle to suspend their relationship.
Pace said he was "integrally involved" in the handling of the Fogle situation.
The FBI hasn't provided details on why Fogle's home was raided. But Subway has said it believed it was tied to a previous investigation of a former employee of Fogle's foundation. In May, the foundation's former executive director Russell Taylor had been arrested on child pornography charges.
Pace's departure from Subway comes as the chain's sales have struggled. Last year, the average sales volume for Subway restaurants in the U.S. fell 3 percent from the previous year, according to market researcher Technomic.
“Heretic” and “Maria” Set As Red Carpet Premieres At AFI Fest
The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Heretic, the psychological thriller starring Hugh Grant, and Maria, based on the life of opera singer Maria Callas starring Angelina Jolie, will round out the Red Carpet Premieres section at this year’s AFI Fest. The Heretic Gala Screening will take place on Thursday, October 24, and the Maria Gala Screening will be held on Saturday, October 26. The complete Red Carpet Premieres section includes the world premieres of Music By John Williams, Robert Zemeckis’ Here, Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl and Clint Eastwood’s Juror #2. All Red Carpet Premieres will take place at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre. The full lineup for AFI Fest 2024 will be unveiled on October 1.
“At the heart of AFI Fest is an unwavering dedication to celebrating the best in global cinema--together,” said Bob Gazzale, AFI president and CEO. “We look forward to uniting artists and audiences once again to be inspired by the art form in a powerful sense of community.”
Heretic follows two young missionaries (Sophie Thatcher and Chloe East) who are forced to prove their faith when they knock on the wrong door and are greeted by a diabolical Mr. Reed (portrayed by Grant), becoming ensnared in his deadly game of cat-and-mouse. The film is directed by Scott Beck and Bryan Woods and produced by Stacey Sher, Beck, Woods, Julia Glausi and Jeanette Volturno. The film will be released nationwide by A24 on November 8.
Directed by Pablo Larraín, Maria presents a tumultuous and beautiful depiction of one of the world’s most renowned artists and reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days in Paris, as Callas (Jolie)... Read More