Graydon D. Webb
Graydon is a Managing Director of Chapman Partners. He has an extensive background in the franchising and brand development within the QSR and Casual Dining chain restaurant industries. Beginning in high school, he worked for his family’s Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise restaurants where he first met R. David Thomas.
Mr. Webb was recruited by Dave to become one of the founding management for Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers. During his 10-year tenure at Wendy’s, Graydon negotiated franchise agreements for all major metropolitan U.S. markets as well as Canada, Japan and the Caribbean. In this capacity, he guided the development of the first 2,000 restaurants built within the Wendy’s franchise system that has grown into one of our nation’s strongest restaurant brands.
In 1980, Mr. Webb left his position as Vice President of Franchise Sales to join his family owned and operated franchise of Wendy’s. In 1981, Graydon founded G.D. Ritzy’s, a Midwest chain of quick service diners and grew it to a 100 unit chain by 1986 known for it super premium ice creams recognized by People Magazine as “America’s Best Chocolate”.
Graydon is a graduate of The Ohio State University and is a former trustee of the Columbus Symphony, the Columbus Center for Science and Industry, The Ohio State University College of Human Sciences and the Capital University Graduate School of Business. He is often called upon to speak on the state of the franchising and the restaurant industry.