Sushi Sushi is boosting franchise-led development with two key promotions. Karla Shand has stepped into the role of chief development officer after 11 months as Sushi Sushi’s general manager of franchise development. Julia Hewagama takes up the role of head of franchising, promoted from her franchise development manager role with the sushi chain.
Shand told Franchise Executives the business is doubling down on franchise-led expansion, in Australia and across key international markets.
“The recent leadership moves, with my transition to chief development officer and Julia Hewagama stepping into head of franchising, are all about sharpening that focus,” Shand said.
“Over the past 10 months, we’ve built some serious momentum. The priority now is to scale sustainably, partnering with high-quality franchise partners and ensuring each new site delivers strong, consistent returns through a disciplined approach to site selection, leasing and store design.”
Shand said Sushi Sushi’s recent acquisition by Genki Global Dining Concepts adds another layer of firepower.
“It gives us access to global expertise, innovation and scale. It also opens the door to faster international growth and new formats, particularly in high-traffic grab-and-go environments where the brand really shines,” she said.
“Ultimately, it’s about building a stronger, more resilient network that supports our franchise partners and sets Sushi Sushi up for long-term growth. And right now, we feel like we’re in a strong place as a brand, well-positioned, focused and ready for what’s next,” Shand said.
