CFO / President

Usama Valam serves as the President and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Shelby’s Franchise Holdings Inc., where he leads the company’s global financial strategy, and corporate development. With over 20 years of senior leadership experience spanning finance, strategic sourcing, mergers and acquisitions (M&A), and organizational transformation, Usama is recognized for driving sustainable growth and shaping the strategic direction of one of Canada’s fastest-growing Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) brands. As President and CFO, Usama oversees all financial, operational, legal, real-estate development, IT and supply chain functions of Shelby’s worldwide. He plays a key role in advancing the company’s global expansion initiatives, guiding franchise development, and ensuring fiscal sustainability across all markets. Under his leadership, Shelby’s continues to strengthen its position as a premium, globally recognized shawarma brand with a growing international footprint in North America, the United Kingdom, and the Middle East. Throughout his career, Usama has executed complex M&A transactions, implemented high-impact cost-optimization initiatives, and built integrated procurement and distribution systems that drive consistency, profitability, and scalability. His ability to combine strategic foresight with operational precision has consistently resulted in measurable business transformation and long-term stakeholder value. A visionary leader known for his analytical acumen, innovation mindset, and collaborative leadership style, Usama continues to champion initiatives that elevate brand performance, enhance franchisee success, and create lasting impact across the organization. His commitment to excellence, integrity, and disciplined growth remains central to Shelby’s evolution as a global category leader in the Shawarma QSR space.

VP Training & Field Operations

Jason has spent over 30 years in the food and beverage industry working in several franchise models including Domino’s Pizza, Boston Pizza, Crabby Joe’s and most recently as the Leasing and Construction Manager for Subway in SW Ontario. Through his various leadership roles that have included kitchen manager, general manager and former franchisee with an international QSR brand, he has developed a well rounded skill set to assist franchisees improve operations and profitability.

VP Information Technology

Andrew brings a wealth of experience to his current role as Vice President of Information Technology, blending his extensive background in the restaurant industry with a deep understanding of technology. With over 30 years of leadership in both fine dining and quick-service restaurant (QSR) environments, Andrew’s commitment to delivering high-quality food and exceptional customer service has always been central to his approach. This philosophy aligns perfectly with Shelby’s business model, which emphasizes fresh ingredients, a fun and engaging customer experience, and a strong focus on quality. Andrew’s transition to this role reflects his proven track record of leveraging technology to enhance business operations. For the last few years, he has been at the forefront of innovative IT strategies, driving large-scale initiatives that improve infrastructure, adopt emerging technologies, and enhance client satisfaction. His leadership has consistently fostered high-performing teams, ensuring scalable IT solutions that support the broader goals of the business. Known for his strategic mindset, Andrew focuses on reducing inefficiencies, exceeding performance targets, and aligning IT operations with the company’s growth objectives. He is particularly focused on helping franchisees run more efficient, future-focused stores, believing that empowering individual locations will ultimately drive the company’s success in the competitive Middle Eastern QSR market. With his combination of industry knowledge and forward-thinking IT leadership, Andrew is uniquely positioned to guide Shelby’s continued growth and innovation in the years ahead.

VP Project Management

Tony has over 39 years in the Food and Beverage industry, starting his career as a cook at eleven years old! Tony’s dedication to the hospitality industry has never stopped expanding and developing as a Canada Red Seal Certified Chef. Tony also has worked for the industry’s finest as Corporate Chef, and Executive Director of Food and Beverage of many other well-known companies. Tony is a graduate of Humber College in Ontario, with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Management and Culinary Management, graduating with honours. He also spent time in Japan working and training with a team of Japanese Chefs at a major resort.

VP Real Estate Development

Sandra Lewis serves as Vice President of Real Estate Development at Shelby’s Canada, where she leads the national and international expansion of our restaurant footprint. Her approach to strategic site selection and lease negotiation blends analytical precision with deep market insight, ensuring every location is positioned for long-term success. Sandra’s reputation as a fair but firm negotiator is well earned. She is known for crafting clear, mutually beneficial agreements that protect brand interests while fostering strong landlord and broker relationships. Before joining Shelby’s, Sandra built her expertise through years of hands-on experience in commercial real estate at A&W and Starbucks. She is a trusted mentor and collaborative leader who values transparency, efficiency, and innovation. Sandra’s commitment to excellence and her ability to drive expansion with integrity make her a vital part of Shelby’s executive team as the brand continues it's journey toward global recognition.

Sr. Legal Counsel

Ashley brings more than a decade of legal and commercial experience to the Shelby’s leadership team. In her role as Senior Legal Counsel, she oversees all legal, regulatory, and compliance matters, while building and advancing the in-house legal function to scale with Shelby’s national and global growth. With deep expertise in franchise, corporate, real estate, and commercial law, Ashley is a trusted advisor to the executive and operations teams, working proactively to protect the brand and enable ambitious expansion. Passionate about creating structure in fast-moving businesses, Ashley is driven by the goal of helping Shelby’s bring legendary food and innovation to communities around the world — with integrity, consistency, and confidence behind every step.

Sr. Director, Marketing

Cinthia Nehring is a seasoned brand strategist with over 25 years of experience leading marketing initiatives and elevating brands across Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and the Americas. She has worked with globally recognized brands, including Coca-Cola, Mattel, McCann, Sprint, and Church’s Texas Chicken, consistently delivering impactful results through innovative strategies and strong leadership. Her passion for brand building drives her ability to turn ambitious goals into measurable achievements. Her career spans multiple industries, including consumer goods, advertising, finance, consulting, and healthcare. Cinthia has built and led high-performing teams, developed marketing programs that exceed revenue targets, and guided large-scale digital transformation efforts. In a previous role as International Head, she oversaw more than 750 restaurants worldwide, aligning brand strategy with business growth. She also brings extensive experience in event planning and business operations, with a proven track record of managing complex projects and delivering measurable outcomes. Cinthia holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing with a specialty in Sales from Louisiana State University. Her academic foundation, combined with her commitment to continuous learning, enables her to lead with insight and adaptability in a rapidly changing global market.

Creative Director

Sultan brings a wealth of expertise in filmmaking, creative writing, and photography, honed through years of collaboration with global brands, agencies, and broadcast channels. As a key member of Shelby’s marketing team, Sultan has played a pivotal role in creating visually captivating videos designed for consumer engagement. He also creates comedic content on TikTok that playfully showcases our company’s culture and brand identity. With his talents in writing and directing, Sultan oversees all video productions while being deeply involved in our social media, marketing strategies, and overall creative direction. His passion for visual storytelling, photography, music, and food fuels his creativity and drives his commitment to delivering impactful content.