Indian fast-casual restaurant believes Alstead will help it pursue its mission of making Indian cuisine accessible
Former Starbucks chief operating officer Troy Alstead has joined the board of directors of the Indian fast-casual restaurant RASA as an independent member.
Alstead will serve a supervisory role working closely with RASA founders, Sahil Rahman and Rahul Vinod, the restaurant that was named a 2022 Breakout Brand by Nation’s Restaurant News, announced Tuesday.
He will help the duo in making key business decisions and providing operational, financial, and strategic guidance as they continue to grow the RASA brand, the Washington based restaurant said.
Read: DC’s Indian Rasa chain set to expand along the East Coast (March 9, 2022)
“We are honored to welcome Troy to the RASA Board of Directors. His deep understanding of operational excellence, growth strategy, company culture, and new market expansion will help us to accelerate our growth plans and improve both our team and guest experience,” said Rahman.
“He is a visionary leader with a passion for culture and sustainability and his unique understanding of small business, alongside his global experience and perspective, will be invaluable for us as we build our team and pursue our mission of making Indian cuisine accessible and sharing flavorful healthy meals with our communities.”
“I am fortunate to be able to serve on the boards of a number of incredible companies and am very selective about which I am part of,” said Alstead.
“They must have clear opportunities for profitable growth; strong values; a commitment to having a positive impact on people and the environment; and passionate, innovative, talented leaders.”
“From my first introduction to RASA, it was apparent that the company and leaders embrace all of those qualities and commitments,” Alstead said.
“Rahul and Sahil’s entrepreneurial drive, commitment to building their business in a sustainable way, and powerful vision introducing authentic, delicious, and nutritious Indian cuisine in a more approachable and fun way make me excited to be a part of the team and to contribute to bringing their vision to life in more and more communities,” he added.
Besides his 24 years of service with Starbucks Corporation, Alstead is also the founder of Ocean5, a sustainability-focused entertainment and events venue, Table 47, a restaurant focused on responsible sourcing and operations, and The Cup Coffee Lounge.
Read: Former Starbucks Exec Troy Alstead Joins RASA’s Board (September 21, 2022)
He last served as Starbucks’s chief operating officer. Prior to that, he served in a number of operational, general management, and finance roles, including the positions of group president, chief financial officer, and chief administrative officer.
He also serves as a member of the board of directors for Harley-Davidson Motor Company, Levi Strauss & Co., OYO Global, and previously served on the board of directors at TopGolf.