Mel Hope
Chief Financial Officer
Mel Hope joined the First Watch team in 2018, bringing decades of experience leading complex public organizations like Popeyes’ Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. as well as entrepreneurial start-ups. He leads the company’s finance department, including long-term strategic financial planning, transactional negotiations, reporting, P&L budgeting and more. Prior to joining First Watch, Mel was most recently a partner in Genesis Real Estate Advisers LLC, serving as the company’s Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer. Long before he began working in finance, Mel’s first restaurant experience was at 8 years old, serving iced tea to guests at his grandfather’s restaurant. He graduated from Belhaven University with a BBA in Accounting and is a CPA.