My Bio

• James Walker – Leading at the Intersection of Food and Technology

• Mr. James Walker, recognized as one of the restaurant industry’s most accomplished and sought-after executives, brings a rare foundation of restaurant industry experience coupled with technology expertise.  His range of restaurant experience is as varied as anyone in the industry, cutting across the QSR, Fast Casual and Casual themed restaurant segments. He is a thought leader, and expert in restaurant technology as well as delivery channels, often serving as a leader and mentor to numerous technology startups that service the restaurant industry.  His focus is on building a best-in-class customer experience, domestic and international development, operations, new product innovation, and brand (re)positioning, all to scale organizations, and increase enterprise value. 
• Currently Mr. Walker is the Chief Executive Officer for New York-based Lunchbox®, the premier restaurant technology solution for enterprise restaurant chains. Prior to his appointment as CEO for Lunchbox®, Mr. Walker was a member of the Board of Director’s for LunchBox® where he was instrumental in securing an investment and partnership agreement with global processing leader Shift4®. Prior to Lunchbox® Mr. Walker held the position of Chief Concept & Development Officer for Atlanta based Experiential Brands® where he still is a Senior Advisor. 
• Walker has more than 30 years of broad-based, senior level management experience in the hospitality and retail industries for brands such as Nathan’s Famous®, Baja Fresh®, Cinnabon®, and Subway®. As the North American Vice President for Subway®, Walker oversaw their 28,000 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada and was instrumental in starting Subway’s delivery program. While at Nathan’s Famous®, Walker repositioned the brand as “The Flavor of NY,” and he successfully developed the sandwich menu offerings to drive both check average and frequency. He has conducted business in more than 70 international markets, including such emerging markets as Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Pakistan and Mongolia, as well as virtually all major trade areas within the United States.
• Walker holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Duke’s Fuqua School of Business and has received certificates and diplomas from a number of institutions and colleges, including Yale’s School of Management, and Harvard’s Business School. Walker has also completed both MIT’s “Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy” program as well as the Sloan School of Management’s “Social Media Strategy” program. In 2020 and 2017, he was a Reader’s Pick for the Nation’s Restaurant News “Power List” of notable restaurant executives and in 2024 the Nation’s Restaurant News reader’s named Mr. Walker one of the “industry’s most influential marketers.”   In 2016, he was awarded the President’s “E” Award by President Obama for Excellence in Furthering American Business Internationally. In 2015, the International Franchise Association (IFA) conferred the designation of Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) to Walker, and in 2021 he joined the Society of Fellows of The Culinary Institute of America (CIA). In November of 2022, Walker received his certification in Wine at WSET Level 2. In September of 2023 Mr. Walker was awarded the “Lifetime Achievement Award” during the Arab Franchise Expo in Dubai.

“Food is the only art form that you experience with all your senses, and you must experience to live.” – JW