When a restaurant group’s CFO moves into the president’s chair, it says something about where the industry’s smartest operators are looking for leadership: not just at the menu, but at the math, the people, and the long game. That’s the story at Alexandria Restaurant Partners (ARP), the Northern Virginia-based multi-brand operator that has just named former chief financial officer Nazia Millwala as its new president.
ARP owns and operates nine concepts across Northern Virginia and Orlando. The promotion caps a steady climb for Millwala and marks the beginning of a deliberate leadership handoff from the company’s founding partners.
From CFO to the Corner Office
Millwala joined ARP in January 2022 as vice president of finance and was promoted to chief financial officer in August 2024. Her move into the president’s role continues that upward trajectory and opens what the company calls an important new chapter for the Alexandria-based group.
As president, Millwala will oversee ARP’s operations, finance, people and culture, marketing, and food and beverage execution. Her first-year priorities read like a playbook for any operator navigating a leadership transition:
- Ensuring a smooth transition at the top
- Building an expanded executive leadership team
- Establishing a strong operational structure for the company’s future
The appointment is part of a planned leadership evolution as ARP partners Dave Nicholas, David Clapp and Scott Shaw shift their focus away from day-to-day management.
“Scott, David and I are incredibly proud of what our team has built, and we believe this is the right time to transition day-to-day leadership to Nazia,” said Dave Nicholas, co-founder and partner of Alexandria Restaurant Partners. “She has earned the trust and respect of our team through her thoughtful leadership, broad business perspective and genuine commitment to our people. We look forward to remaining involved and supporting her as she leads ARP forward.”
A People-First, Guest-Focused Strategy
Building on more than a decade of growth, Millwala’s strategy centers on ARP’s people, management development and community involvement. Over the next 18 months, she plans to develop the company’s next generation of managers and leaders, create new opportunities for employees, and deepen ARP’s connections throughout Alexandria and Orlando.
Her plan also includes growing sales channels such as catering, strengthening marketing, and continuing to evolve the company’s concepts and guest experiences — a reminder that revenue diversification and brand evolution remain top of mind even during a leadership change.
“ARP’s greatest strength is the people who bring our restaurants to life every day,” said Millwala. “My priority is to give our teams the clarity and support they need to do their best work. We have an incredible opportunity to build on what makes our restaurants special, find new ways to serve our guests and contribute even more to the communities we call home.”
A Global Résumé Behind a Local Brand
Millwala brings an unusually international background to a regional restaurant group. Before joining ARP, she spent 12 years with Yum! Brands in leadership roles across finance, marketing and development for KFC and Pizza Hut in Canada, the Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Turkey. Her work spanned business analysis, regional marketing strategy, franchise development, market expansion and portfolio growth.
She began her career at KPMG, working with Fortune 500 companies and building a foundation in financial analysis, risk assessment and strategic planning. Born and raised in Dubai, Millwala earned a degree in commerce from the University of Wollongong in Australia and an International MBA from IE Business School in Madrid, Spain.
Why It Matters
For foodservice executives and multi-unit operators, ARP’s move is a case study in succession done on purpose rather than under pressure. Founders Nicholas, Clapp and Shaw are stepping back from daily operations while staying involved — a model that preserves institutional knowledge while handing control to a leader promoted from within.
Just as notable is the profile of the leader itself: a finance executive with global franchise experience now running operations, people and F&B execution. For operators planning their own succession, it’s a signal that financial fluency and development experience are increasingly viewed as president-caliber credentials, not just back-office skills.
And the practical takeaway for operators watching growth levers? Millwala’s early emphasis on catering, manager development and community ties maps directly to where many regional groups are finding durable margin and talent retention. If you’re building a 12-to-18-month plan of your own, those are the fundamentals worth revisiting.
ARP’s portfolio includes Ada’s on the River, Mia’s Italian Kitchen, Vola’s Dockside Grill and Hi-Tide Lounge, Theismann’s Restaurant and Bar, Palette 22, BARCA Pier & Wine Bar and Royal Restaurant, plus its Orlando concepts Mia’s Italian Kitchen and Café Tu Tu Tango. Founded in 2013, the group describes its purpose as impacting lives through extraordinary hospitality.
The Takeaway for Operators
Leadership transitions are among the hardest things a growing restaurant company can navigate — and the ones that work tend to be planned, internal and clearly communicated. ARP has checked all three boxes.
Tracking how the C-suite is reshaping across the industry? See how The Duckhorn Portfolio reshuffled its own leadership team, and read about Chef Brian Archibald’s return to Playa Largo Resort & Spa for more on hospitality’s latest moves.
What does Millwala’s promotion signal about where restaurant leadership is heading? Weigh in with your take in the comments.
