Marco’s Pizza, based in Toledo, Ohio, has appointed experienced franchise lawyer Kristin Corcoran to chief legal counsel (CLC). Corcoran boasts a 30-plus-year history of providing legal counsel within the franchising industry, handling both domestic and international legal matters at organizations such as DLA Piper N.A. and the franchisor of Subway restaurants.
Corcoran was also the co-founding partner of Appleby & Corcoran, which provided legal counsel to franchisor clients. Prior to her appointment to CLC, Corcoran served as Marco’s vice president of corporate counsel. As CLC, she will serve as the primary legal adviser to the company, providing day-to-day direction to her team and working closely with the leadership team and various department heads to provide counsel.
“The opportunity to serve at a leading franchise such as Marco’s—a brand with an outstanding culture and a rapidly expanding footprint—has been a unique and exciting experience,” Corcoran says. “Since I joined Marco’s, the brand has made significant strides in furthering its growth, and I look forward to continuing our momentum for years to come.”
This news comes on the heels of another Marco’s C-Suite promotion, with John Meyers appointed as chief operating officer as well as several significant appointments on the marketing team. Using her decades of knowledge in both the restaurant and franchising space, Corcoran will deliver strategic legal advice to keep Marco’s moving on an upward trajectory.
“Kristin’s legal expertise has made a profound impact on Marco’s throughout her time with the brand,” says Tony Libardi, co-CEO and president of Marco’s Pizza. “Her leadership, knowledge and contributions have been instrumental as we roll out new initiatives that benefit both our franchisees and customers. She has been a tremendous asset and addition to our executive team, and I look forward to seeing her continue to bring invaluable experience and perspective as we embark on our next era of growth.”
This appointment comes at a pivotal time for the leadership team as they strengthen their strong development support system, which includes technology and tools to help identify territories for expansion, plus support in real estate, construction management, field operations and information related to financing.
The Marco’s brand was ranked in Newsweek’s 2023 America’s Best Customer Service in the pizza chains category, earned a spot on QSR’s Top 50, and recently claimed the No. 48 spot on Entrepreneur’s 2024 Franchise 500 ranking.
Marco’s Pizza was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale (“Pat”) Giammarco. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate more than 1,200 stores in 34 states, with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas.
