Hand & Stone Appoints Former Subway Executive Carrie Walsh as CEO

Walsh arrives at the Trevose-based company after a high-profile stint at Subway, where she served as interim CEO and President of the brand’s Europe, Middle East, and Africa division. Her background includes extensive work with major consumer names like Pizza Hut, PepsiCo, and Michaels. She is expected to leverage this experience to modernize digital infrastructure and refine the customer experience across the company’s 650-unit footprint.

Hand & Stone enters this leadership transition from a position of relative strength, currently holding the top spot in the massage and spa category of Entrepreneur’s 2026 Franchise 500. With membership numbers at record highs, the company aims to sustain its growth trajectory by focusing on service excellence and expanding its market reach. Leff, who oversaw the brand's recent successes, will assist with the executive handoff to ensure continuity for the network of franchise owners.