The C Society Launches to Redefine Hospitality Leadership with Fractional Executive Model

Delivering top-tier talent to accelerate growth, profitability, and culture for emerging and scaling restaurant brands

DOVER, Del.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The hospitality industry is facing its most significant leadership gap in decades, as traditional executive structures are proving too rigid, costly and slow for today’s fast-moving restaurant landscape. Enter The C Society, a powerhouse collective of elite, fractional executives designed to provide emerging brands with access to proven leadership when they need it most.

The C Society provides founders and investors access to proven CEOs, COOs, CMOs, CFOs, and people leaders who step directly into organizations to strengthen operations, increase profitability, elevate culture, and scale brands with purpose and precision across the United States and Canada.

“For decades, restaurant founders have been tied to an outdated choice: hire a full-time executive before the business is ready, or wait too long and absorb the cost of stalled growth, misalignment, or burnout,” said Toni Ronayne, Founder of The C Society and Fractional CEO. “The C Suite isn’t going away, it’s evolving. The C Society gives founders, investors, and boards a third option, real leadership power that flexes with the business.”

Founded by restaurant industry leader Toni Ronayne, The C Society is built for brands that are scaling quickly and need experienced leadership that can drive performance- without the cost, commitment, or delay of a full-time executive hire.

Ronayne has led and scaled brands across QSR, fast casual, full-service, franchising, and global expansion- including overseeing international development at Freshii, supporting brand growth to 500+ restaurants across 17 countries, and leading brand and performance transformation efforts at Perkins American Food Co.

She serves on advisory boards for Women in Restaurant Leadership (WiRL) and the FSR Next Gen Council, and is widely recognized for championing women in leadership and building organizations with substance and soul.

“The C Suite isn’t going away, it’s evolving,” continued Ronayne. “Founders are being asked to solve enterprise-level challenges with startup-level resources, we provide the leadership muscle that accelerates execution, protects value, and ensures brands scale quickly and strategically.”

A Model Built for How Hospitality Scales Now

Investors and boards are demanding enterprise-level discipline earlier in the growth curve, while founders are still operating with lean teams, compressed margins, and limited leadership depth. As leadership turnover, labor shortages, and rising costs reshape the industry, many restaurant brands are expanding beyond their operational and cultural capacity. The C Society bridges that gap by embedding experienced leaders directly into businesses to deliver immediate strategic clarity and operational horsepower.

Core areas of support include:

• Strategic planning and organizational alignment
• Financial performance and operational discipline
• Culture building and leadership development
• Brand and guest experience strategy
• Expansion and franchising infrastructure

Flexible Engagements for Real-World Growth

The C Society’s flexible engagement models are tailored for the evolving needs of restaurant brands and their stakeholders:

• Project-Based Initiatives: Solve urgent challenges, unlock margin, or set strategic direction
• Fractional C-Suite Leadership: Embedded executives who drive daily execution and accountability
• Executive Coaching & Leadership Development: Strengthen decision-making and team performance
• Advisory Boards for Founders: Curated groups of industry leaders who guide long-term growth

“There are seasons of growth that require clarity, and seasons that require horsepower,” concluded Ronayne. “Our model adapts to both, so founders, investors, and boards get exactly what they need, when they need it.”

More Than an Executive Collective

Beyond client engagements, The C Society operates as a private leadership network where top hospitality executives collaborate, share deal flow, and shape the next era of leadership together. To learn more about the C Society founding members, visit joincsociety.com/society-leaders/.

“This is not another consultancy,” added Ronayne. “This is a new leadership model designed for brands that want to scale with clarity, culture, and performance.”

About The C Society

The C Society is an elite collective of fractional C-suite leaders redefining the future of hospitality. We match high-growth restaurant and hospitality brands with proven CEOs, COOs, CMOs, CFOs, Chief People Officers, culinary and technology leaders, and strategic operators who accelerate performance, strengthen profitability, and build sustainable company culture. Founded by industry leader Toni Ronayne, The C Society delivers leadership that lasts.

Learn more at joincsociety.com