John Dillon is a nationally recognized President and CEO, board advisor, and growth catalyst with a rare blend of marketing leadership, operating discipline, and enterprise transformation experience. He currently serves as CEO and President of la Madeleine Bakery & Cafe, leading a disciplined modernization focused on brand relevance, guest experience, and unit-level economics.

Previously, John rose from Chief Marketing Officer to Chief Brand Officer to President at Denny's Corporation, helping revitalize the 1,600-unit system through stronger brand relevance, a modernized guest experience, and improved business performance. He's also founder of HMS Growth Partners, advising founders, CEOs, and growth-stage companies across consumer, retail, restaurant, and hospitality.

John has been named to the Forbes Top 50 CMOs list, Business Insider's World's Best CMOs, Adweek 50, and PRWeek Power 50, and his teams' work has earned both Cannes Lions and Effie awards — a rare résumé that connects brand creativity directly to business results.