CAVA Announces Appointment of Amiee Bayer-Thomas to Board
CAVA Group, Inc. (NYSE: CAVA), the Mediterranean fast-casual restaurant company known for its focus on fresh ingredients, hospitality, and healthy dining, has strengthened its leadership team by appointing Amiee Bayer-Thomas, Chief Retail Officer of Ulta Beauty, Inc., to its Board of Directors. The appointment became effective on July 29 and reflects CAVA’s continued efforts to bring experienced operational leaders into its governance as the company accelerates its nationwide expansion.
The addition of Bayer-Thomas comes at a time when CAVA is experiencing significant growth across the United States. As the company continues opening new restaurants, expanding its customer base, and investing in operational excellence, the board believes her extensive retail leadership experience will help guide its next phase of development.
Experienced Retail Leader Joins CAVA’s Board
Bayer-Thomas brings more than 30 years of executive leadership experience across the retail industry. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for driving operational excellence, improving customer experiences, developing high-performing teams, and leading organizations through periods of rapid expansion and transformation.
Currently serving as Chief Retail Officer at Ulta Beauty, Inc., Bayer-Thomas oversees one of the largest specialty retail operations in North America. Her responsibilities include leading store operations, salon services, real estate growth, store development, store design, and loss prevention across more than 1,500 retail locations supported by a workforce exceeding 60,000 associates.
Her broad operational background and experience managing complex, multi-location organizations make her a valuable addition to CAVA’s Board as the restaurant company continues scaling its business while maintaining a strong customer experience.
Leadership Focused on People and Operations
CAVA Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer Brett Schulman welcomed Bayer-Thomas to the company’s Board, highlighting both her operational expertise and her leadership philosophy.
According to Schulman, Bayer-Thomas has consistently demonstrated a people-first approach throughout her career. Having spent decades working in retail operations, she understands the importance of frontline employees, store execution, and delivering exceptional guest experiences.
He noted that her knowledge of managing national operations, developing leadership talent, and building organizations capable of sustained growth aligns closely with CAVA’s strategic priorities.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Schulman emphasized that Bayer-Thomas shares CAVA’s commitment to building strong organizational cultures centered on values, teamwork, and hospitality. These qualities, he said, make her an excellent fit for the company’s long-term vision.
Supporting CAVA’s Expansion
CAVA has emerged as one of the fastest-growing names in the fast-casual restaurant industry by introducing Mediterranean-inspired cuisine to a broad consumer audience. The company has differentiated itself through customizable meals featuring fresh vegetables, grains, proteins, dips, and sauces while emphasizing healthier dining options and exceptional guest service.
As the restaurant chain continues expanding into new markets, maintaining operational consistency becomes increasingly important. Board members with experience managing large-scale organizations can provide valuable oversight on areas such as operational efficiency, workforce development, customer satisfaction, and long-term growth planning.
Bayer-Thomas’ experience overseeing thousands of retail employees and hundreds of operational initiatives positions her to contribute meaningful insights as CAVA scales its restaurant footprint nationwide.
Extensive Leadership Experience at Ulta Beauty
Since joining Ulta Beauty in 2016, Bayer-Thomas has held several executive leadership positions, steadily expanding her responsibilities across the organization.
Before becoming Chief Retail Officer, she served as:
- Chief Store Operations Officer
- Chief Supply Chain Officer
These roles provided her with comprehensive oversight of Ulta Beauty’s end-to-end operations, spanning supply chain management, logistics, store operations, merchandising execution, and customer-facing retail performance.
Her experience covers every stage of the operational process—from product movement through distribution networks to customer interactions inside retail stores.
Throughout her tenure, Bayer-Thomas has focused on:
- Improving operational efficiency
- Driving continuous process improvement
- Maintaining cost discipline
- Developing leadership talent
- Strengthening organizational performance
- Enhancing customer experiences
This broad operational expertise is expected to complement CAVA’s ongoing investments in restaurant operations and growth infrastructure.
Leading Through Operational Challenges
One of Bayer-Thomas’ notable accomplishments has been guiding large organizations through periods of significant disruption.
She has played a central role in overseeing business continuity strategies and operational responses affecting thousands of retail locations. Successfully managing such complex operations required balancing employee safety, customer needs, supply chain challenges, and operational consistency under rapidly changing conditions.
Experience navigating uncertainty and maintaining business performance during challenging periods provides valuable perspective for public companies operating in highly competitive consumer industries.
As CAVA continues expanding, insights gained from managing operational resilience may prove increasingly valuable in supporting long-term sustainable growth.
A Shared Commitment to Hospitality
Bayer-Thomas expressed enthusiasm about joining CAVA’s Board, noting that she has long admired the company’s unique combination of flavorful Mediterranean cuisine and genuine hospitality.
She described CAVA as a brand that has successfully built a distinctive position within the restaurant industry by pairing bold food offerings with a people-centered approach to serving guests.
She also praised the company’s commitment to supporting employees, customers, and local communities, saying these values made the opportunity especially meaningful.
Bayer-Thomas stated that she looks forward to collaborating with CAVA’s executive leadership team and fellow board members to help the company continue expanding its mission while introducing more consumers across the United States to Mediterranean-inspired dining.
Earlier Leadership Roles
Prior to joining Ulta Beauty, Bayer-Thomas built her leadership experience through senior positions at several major retail organizations.
She previously held executive roles at:
- JCPenney
- Limited Brands
Across these organizations, she gained experience in:
- Store operations
- Field leadership
- Merchandising
- Organizational development
- Retail execution
These roles helped establish the broad operational foundation that has defined her executive career and prepared her for increasingly complex leadership responsibilities.
Board and Community Service
In addition to her corporate leadership responsibilities, Bayer-Thomas remains active in nonprofit and industry organizations.
She currently serves on the Board of Directors of YWCA Metropolitan Chicago, supporting the organization’s mission to advance equity and empower communities.
She has also previously served on the advisory board of Shoptalk, one of the retail industry’s leading innovation conferences, where executives collaborate on emerging trends shaping the future of commerce.
Her involvement in both community organizations and industry initiatives reflects a leadership philosophy that extends beyond business performance to include social impact and organizational development.
Educational Background
Bayer-Thomas earned a Bachelor of Arts in Management from the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University. Her academic foundation, combined with more than three decades of executive leadership, has contributed to a career marked by operational excellence, strategic planning, and people-focused leadership.
Strengthening Governance for Future Growth
The appointment of Bayer-Thomas reinforces CAVA’s commitment to building a Board of Directors with diverse expertise capable of supporting the company’s ambitious growth strategy. As the restaurant chain continues expanding its national presence, experienced leaders with backgrounds in operations, talent development, customer engagement, and large-scale business management can provide valuable strategic oversight.
With Bayer-Thomas joining the Board, CAVA gains an executive who has successfully led large organizations, managed extensive frontline workforces, and delivered operational improvements across complex retail environments. Her expertise is expected to support the company’s efforts to maintain its culture, enhance operational performance, and continue delivering high-quality Mediterranean dining experiences as it grows across the United States.
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