Inspire Brands Appoints Scott Murphy as Interim CEO Ahead of IPO
Inspire Brands has appointed Scott Murphy, President of Dunkin', as interim chief executive officer while co-founder and current CEO Paul Brown takes a temporary medical leave. The leadership change occurs ahead of Inspire's planned initial public offering (IPO), which it filed for confidentially in May 2026. Murphy emphasized that the company has no intention to alter its strategy or direction during this transition period, expressing confidence in welcoming Paul Brown back once he recovers. Murphy joined Inspire through the acquisition of Dunkin' in 2020 and previously spent over two decades with the brand before the deal. Inspire Brands is a restaurant holding company backed by Roark Capital, operating more than 33,400 locations globally across brands including Arby's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Sonic Drive-In, Dunkin', Jimmy John’s, and Baskin-Robbins. The IPO could occur as early as the end of this year or in early 2027.
