George Williams, the senior vice president of marketing for Applebee’s International, is leaving the company next month.
Williams’ departure is based on Applebee’s decision to change its marketing strategy and take it “in a new direction,” the company said last week.
Williams joined Applebee’s marketing department in February 2007.
His last day will be March 30. A search for a permanent replacement is underway, Applebee’s said.
Under a new initiative to re-energize the brand, Applebee’s marketing team is working with MarketSphere, a marketing consulting firm, to develop concepts, such as menu positioning and media strategy, the company said.
Prior to joining Applebee’s, Williams worked as a private marketing consultant. Before that, he worked for four years as senior vice president of marketing for Blockbuster, where he led marketing efforts for the company.
Williams also held marketing jobs at Pearle Vision Center, Long John Silver’s Holdings, Inc. and Days Inn.