New Salata leader Maerz: 'My focus as president will be to carry the brand forward with quality as our compass'

A Houston-based national fast-casual salad kitchen chain named a new president on Tuesday. 

Salata Salad Kitchen announced that it promoted Michele Maerz from vice president of operations to its highest office, according to a company-issued press release.

The release said that Maerz is the successor to Michelle Bythewood, who held a similar position from 2019 to this year. 

Per Salata, Bythewood helped with the search for a new leader and expressed confidence in Maerz. 

“While it is a very hard decision to leave Salata, I am confident that Michele, with her operational background, will continue to grow the brand in the right direction,” Bythewood said in the release.

Bythewood touted her “great tandem working relationship” with Maerz, which dated back to when the latter joined Salata in 2021.

“I feel confident that moving forward, Salata is in the hands of someone who truly cares about the brand and can take it to the next level as they continue to grow,” she said, according to the company.

The release said that Maerz possesses more than three decades of experience in the restaurant industry, working in executive positions at establishments such as On The Border Grill & Cantina, Lazy Dog Restaurants and BJ’s Restaurants.

In her two years so far with Salata, the release said, Maerz and her team succeeded in the improvement of operational procedures, the addition of several new items on the menu and created the Salata Mobile Kitchen for when franchises undergo work.

As the company’s president, she oversees a footprint of over 90 corporate and franchised restaurants.

Maerz said in the release she anticipates continuing the work of Bythewood, thanking her predecessor for being a mentor, leader and friend to her.

“My focus as president will be to carry the brand forward with quality as our compass, build upon operational efficiencies and double our restaurant count over the next five years,” she said. “I am passionate about Salata’s mission to make healthy, fresh and customizable meal options more accessible to communities around the country and look forward to leading the charge as president.”