Burger Urge has announced a leadership shake-up that highlights its ambitions for expansion across Australia. The gourmet burger chain has appointed Allison Hall as its new Head of Development, a move designed to bolster its growth pipeline and sharpen its real estate strategy.
Hall brings more than 15 years of experience in corporate real estate and multi-site portfolio management. She previously held senior roles at Retail Zoo, where she was credited with developing leasing strategies and property initiatives that supported the company’s growth. Her background positions her to guide Burger Urge through the challenges of scaling a restaurant network in an increasingly competitive market.
In a LinkedIn post announcing her new role, Hall described the appointment as “an incredible opportunity to lead the brand’s growth strategy as we continue expanding across Australia.” She emphasized her excitement about partnering with colleagues to bring fresh energy to the business and to ensure every new site is opened with both profitability and brand integrity in mind.
The company has also expanded its leadership with the addition of Troy McDonagh, the former head of Betty’s Burgers, who has joined its advisory board. His experience in guiding a fast-growing casual dining brand is expected to strengthen Burger Urge’s strategic direction and provide insight into navigating the demands of expansion.
At the same time, Burger Urge has invested in its operational backbone by appointing Rebecca Mahar as National Training Manager. Mahar spent nearly two decades at McDonald’s, where she held senior operational roles in Queensland. Her focus at Burger Urge will be to build a robust training program that ensures consistency, efficiency and customer satisfaction as the brand grows.
These appointments underscore Burger Urge’s determination to compete more aggressively in the gourmet burger segment, a category that has expanded rapidly in Australia in recent years. Analysts note that securing strong leadership in development, advisory oversight and training is critical for brands looking to scale without losing control of their operations or diluting their customer experience.
The changes position Burger Urge to strengthen both its growth capacity and its reputation for quality. By aligning expertise in property, strategy and training, the company is signaling to franchise partners and investors that it is serious about disciplined expansion. For consumers, the result could mean more Burger Urge locations and a consistently strong dining experience across the country.
