First Watch Restaurant Group Appoints Ashlee Weisser as CFO

By Chris Stiles • Tuesday, June 09 12:36 • Permanent Link

First Watch Restaurant Group appointed Ashlee Weisser as chief financial officer, effective June 8, 2026, replacing Mel Hope, who is retiring and will remain on as an adviser during the transition.

Weisser joined the company in 2023 as senior vice president of financial planning and analysis. Before that, she served as CFO at Maple Street Biscuit Company during its growth phase after its acquisition by Cracker Barrel. Her earlier finance roles included positions at Bloomin’ Brands, Red Robin and Darden.

The leadership change comes as First Watch continues to expand its footprint. The company said it now operates more than 640 restaurants across 32 states, up from the smaller base it had when Hope helped guide its initial public offering. The company also said it has raised approximately $2.0 million to date through its kid’s meal giving program. Today the company's shares have moved 0.0% to a price of $10.34. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.

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