Deborah Gagnon
Deborah Gagnon is a fractional Chief Operating Officer who helps multi-unit restaurant and franchise organizations improve operational performance, strengthen leadership teams, and scale with consistency. She partners with founders, executive teams, and franchise organizations to translate strategy into disciplined execution across complex, geographically dispersed operations.
With more than 35 years of leadership experience, Deborah has built a career delivering operational excellence, financial performance, and sustainable growth for some of Canada’s largest restaurant organizations. She is recognized for improving margins, elevating guest experience, developing leaders, and creating accountability across large multi-unit systems.
Most recently, Deborah served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Dencan Restaurants, where she led a $200 million restaurant portfolio spanning more than 75 corporate restaurants, 28 franchise locations, and 16 Bar One locations across six Canadian provinces. Throughout her tenure, she helped grow the business from 11 corporate restaurants to a national footprint while leading more than 40 new restaurant openings, annual renovation programs, and large-scale operational transformation initiatives.
Deborah has extensive experience leading P&L performance, strategic planning, capital investment, menu optimization, technology implementation, and organizational change. She is particularly skilled at building high-performing leadership teams, strengthening franchise partnerships, and creating operational systems that improve consistency, profitability, and guest satisfaction.
Throughout her career, Deborah has served on the Denny’s U.S. Operations Brand Advisory Council and Recipe Committee, contributing to brand strategy and international operating standards while helping shape the future direction of one of North America’s most recognized restaurant brands.
Today, Deborah partners with restaurant organizations seeking experienced executive leadership to improve execution, develop leaders, and build the operational discipline required for sustainable growth.