#USA #Home Services #Columbia #Authority Brands #Jay Caiafa

Authority Brands Welcomes New CEO Jay Caiafa

On July 9, 2025, Authority Brands, a leader in the franchise industry renowned for its portfolio of home service brands, made headlines with the announcement of Jay Caiafa as their new Chief Executive Officer. This strategic appointment comes as Craig Donaldson steps down after three years at the helm and seven years on the Board of Directors.

Jay Caiafa is not new to leadership roles; he boasts over twenty years of experience across various sectors such as franchising, hospitality, law, and strategic consulting. His most recent tenure was as Chief Operating Officer for the Americas at InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), where he was responsible for overseeing operations of 4,600 hotels located in 26 countries. This role gave him a significant insight into running large-scale operations, and he played a pivotal part in achieving record growth and operational improvements through innovative use of data and artificial intelligence.

Beginning August 18, 2025, Jay will officially assume the role of CEO, while Craig will remain during a brief transition period to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities. Speaking about the transition, Craig expressed, "I am delighted that a talented executive of Jay's caliber is succeeding me. His deep operational expertise and proven leadership will undoubtedly benefit Authority Brands."

In his remarks concerning his new role, Jay Caiafa shared his enthusiasm for joining a company that has shown remarkable growth lately. He stated, "Authority Brands has demonstrated impressive growth in recent years, with record numbers achieved in 2024 and the addition of 210 new franchise owners to our esteemed roster of 15 home-service brands. With a remarkable total of over $2 billion in systemwide sales, I look forward to collaborating with the team and our franchise partners to build on this strong foundation and unlock more growth opportunities."

The company has a diversified portfolio, including notable brands such as America's Swimming Pool Company, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, and Mister Sparky, among others, collectively serving through 2,000 territories by over 1,000 franchise owners. Authority Brands is dedicated to nurturing individual franchise growth via robust support in marketing, technology, and operations.

As the new CEO, Jay leads Authority Brands into a promising future. He brings a diverse perspective that he gained during his tenure at IHG, positioning the company for a new phase of expansion and refinement within the competitive landscape of home services.

Moreover, Ashish Karandikar, a Partner at Apax Partners and board member at Authority Brands, expressed confidence in Jay's leadership capabilities. Karandikar noted, "Jay's background gives him a unique perspective necessary for leading Authority Brands through its next growth phase. We're grateful for Craig's leadership and wish him all the best with his future endeavors."

As Authority Brands transitions into this new chapter under Caiafa's leadership, industry observers are keenly watching to see how his wealth of experience will influence the company and its franchise partners to achieve greater heights in the home services sector.