Veteran finance executive joins super-premium chicken brand as it accelerates national expansion
San Francisco, CA (RestaurantNews.com) Starbird, the San Francisco-based chicken concept, has appointed Stefanie Lee as chief financial officer. The hire adds a seasoned financial executive to a leadership team that is rapidly building out as the brand continues its national expansion.
The appointment follows a series of momentum-building moves for Starbird, including the recent appointment of Greg Levin as chief executive officer, the signing of a 36-unit franchise development agreement in Texas – the largest in the brand’s history – and the addition of former Jersey Mike’s president Hoyt Jones as an advisor to the board of directors.
Lee joins Starbird with more than 18 years of finance and operations leadership across franchising, fitness and wellness, restaurants, retail and e-commerce, travel and sports. Most recently, she served as CFO of TITLE Boxing Club, the largest franchisor of boxing fitness studios in the United States, where she oversaw financial strategy and franchise economics ahead of a major national expansion.
Her career also includes senior finance roles at Dine Brands Global, Krispy Kreme, PADI, Cold Stone Creamery and other globally recognized brands, giving her direct experience with both publicly traded and private equity-backed companies at scale. Her experience spans franchise and multi-unit restaurant environments, supporting both franchisors and franchisees and bringing a practical lens on unit-level performance and broader brand strategy.
“As we enter our next phase of growth, having the right financial leadership in place is essential,” said Greg Levin, chief executive officer of Starbird. “Stefanie brings a rare combination of franchise finance expertise and operational depth that will strengthen our foundation and give our franchise partners the confidence they need to grow with us. She’s exactly the kind of leader this moment calls for.”
In her new role, Lee will lead all aspects of Starbird’s finance function, including financial planning and analysis, budgeting and forecasting, revenue analytics, pricing strategy, accounting and board reporting. She will also partner closely with operations and franchise leadership to support sustainable unit economics as Starbird grows beyond its California home market.
“I’ve spent my career at the intersection of finance, franchising and operations, and Starbird is exactly the kind of brand I’ve wanted to be part of,” Lee said. “The quality of the concept, the strength of the leadership team and the opportunities in front of us are genuinely compelling. I look forward to building the financial infrastructure that will carry this brand to the next level.”
Founded in San Francisco in 2016, Starbird has built its reputation over nearly a decade of intentional, California-first growth before launching its national franchise program. With franchise agreements now in place across Texas, Washington, Utah, Colorado, Illinois and other markets, Starbird is entering a new chapter of growth anchored by a deepened leadership bench.
To learn more about the brand and/or franchising with Starbird, please visit StarbirdChicken.com and StarbirdFranchising.com, email franchising@starbirdchicken.com or contact 866-327-4779.
About Starbird
Founded in San Francisco in 2016, Starbird is a super-premium fast food brand serving Positively Delicious Chicken® through a modern, thoughtfully designed dining experience that blends hospitality, culinary craft and a smart use of technology. The brand’s menu features signature crispy chicken across salads, tenders, sandwiches, wings, and nuggets – made with bold flavors, high-quality ingredients, house made sauces and a focus on consistency and execution.
Starbird was founded by restaurant entrepreneur Aaron Noveshen through his firm, The Culinary Edge, with a vision to bring higher quality food and thoughtful hospitality to quick-service dining. Built upon pillars of culinary innovation, and operational excellence, Starbird has established a differentiated position within the $34 billion U.S. chicken category. Today, the brand operates 19 locations and continues to expand into new markets.
Starbird’s fresh, chef-driven approach has earned widespread industry recognition, including being named Nation’s Restaurant News’ Chicken Showdown winner in 2023, appearing on Fast Casual’s Top 100 Movers & Shakers for nine consecutive years (ranking #7 in 2025), and landing on Restaurant Business/Technomic’s Future 50 list. Starbird has also been featured in QSR’s Best Brands to Work For in 2025.
For more information, go to StarbirdChicken.com, or follow the brand on Instagram, TikTok and LinkedIn.
Contact:
Courtney Sybesma
Champion
csybesma@championmgt.com
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