Pool service franchise Poolwerx has appointed former Subway franchise executive Tracy Steinwand to its board of directors.
Poolwerx founder and CEO John O’Brien said the appointment was a significant coup for the global board.
“Tracy will bring decades of transferable experience to the Poolwerx team globally,” O’Brien said. “She knows the ins and outs of business development and will provide the entire network with new expertise and growth opportunities.”
Steinwand led Subway’s Australian/New Zealand operations as regional director for eight years, overseeing the opening of nearly 1000 Subway restaurants before taking on the national manager role at Red Rooster.
Returning to Subway in 2011, Steinwand relocated home to the US seven years ago where she held various roles including director of global learning and development and most recently vice president learning and development, a position she held until her departure from the fast food brand in 2020.
Commenting on Poolwerx’ expansion into the US, Steinwand said “I’ve always watched from a distance, seeing where Poolwerx would go next,” she said. “I’ve known John for many years, and it was great to see him execute that so successfully and deliver on what he said he was going to do.
“When he offered me the chance to join the board, it was a fantastic invitation, and now I get to help the company get to where it’s going next.
“I love that regardless of what you’re selling, whether it’s sandwiches or pool services, franchising is a people’s business. We look at how to help franchisees grow and develop their business by providing them with a service or product consumers want.”
Steinwand will also share her business knowledge of the US market, which can be applied ahead of time in Australia.
“There is so much innovation over here in the US, once we’ve got that basic critical mass, we’ll be able to take advantage of the fact that this is such a big market and we’ll share it with the Poolwerx team in Australia and New Zealand.”
