Toronto, Ontario — January 6, 2026 — Leads & Copy — Happy Belly Food Group Inc. has appointed Ian Thomas as Executive Vice President of Finance, effective immediately.
Mr. Thomas brings over 25 years of senior financial leadership experience to Happy Belly, including expertise in franchised restaurant systems, public and private company reporting, and multi-divisional operations. According to Happy Belly, his appointment strengthens the company’s executive team as it scales its multi-branded franchising platform across Canada and advances its U.S. growth strategy.
Sean Black, Chief Executive Officer of Happy Belly, said that Mr. Thomas brings a combination of franchised restaurant expertise, public-company financial discipline, and operational leadership.
Black added that Mr. Thomas has successfully navigated complex reporting environments, driven profitability improvements, and built scalable finance and technology teams within large, high-growth organizations. He believes that Mr. Thomas’s experience will be instrumental in strengthening Happy Belly’s financial infrastructure, supporting franchisee success, and delivering long-term shareholder value as Happy Belly enters its next phase of expansion.
Mr. Thomas most recently spent nine years at Boston Pizza International, where he served as Vice President of Finance, including four years in a dual role as Vice President of Business Technology. In these roles, he oversaw financial operations for both the private franchisor and the public income fund, managing financial reporting requirements and leading profitability and cost-savings initiatives across multiple business segments. The company said that his leadership contributed to improvements in franchisee profitability and operational efficiency.
Mr. Thomas holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Simon Fraser University and is a Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA, CA). Throughout his career, he has demonstrated an ability to build high-performing finance teams, implement scalable systems, and provide boards and executive leadership with data-driven insights to support disciplined growth and effective risk management.
As Executive Vice President of Finance, Mr. Thomas will oversee Happy Belly’s financial franchising strategy, financial reporting, budgeting and forecasting, internal controls, and financial systems, while working with the executive team to support the Company’s continued expansion across its portfolio of restaurant brands.
Happy Belly Food Group Inc. is a leader in acquiring and scaling emerging food brands. The Company’s portfolio includes Heal Wellness, Rosie’s Burgers, Yolks Breakfast, Via Cibo Italian Street Food, and others.
For franchising inquiries please see www.happybellyfg.com/franchise-with-us/ or contact us at hello@happybellyfg.com.
Sean Black
Co-founder, Chief Executive Officer
Shawn Moniz
Co-founder, Chief Operating Officer
If you wish to contact us please call: 1-877-589-8805
Source: Happy Belly Food Group Inc.
