“Recent Franchise Trends and Outlook for Remainder of 2008”
Darrell Johnson, President & CEO  FRANdata
Arlington, VA

Darrell Johnson is President and CEO of FRANdata. Founded in 1989, FRANdata is the franchise industry’s number one source for objective information and analysis. FRANdata receives no advertising or other fee arrangements that might influence its unbiased nature. Using its proprietary software to access data from various sources, including its library of more than 15,000 Uniform Franchise Offering Circulars, FRANdata supports the research and competitive intelligence functions of franchisors, helps franchisees evaluate different concepts, provide information and analysis for legal and financial organizations, and provide marketing access to franchisors and franchisees.

Before acquiring FRANdata in 2001, Darrell Johnson was an executive with a commercial bank for 10 years, where he started an SBA lending unit, developed small business lending teams for cooperative and franchise borrowers, established an equity investment program for cooperative businesses, built a leasing program, and managed a healthcare lending team. Darrell’s career spans information services, commercial banking, investment banking, and federal financial regulation. 

Darrell was a founder of the investment banking subsidiary of a regional commercial bank (now part of Bank of America) where he specialized in corporate finance advisory services, including mergers/acquisitions.  He also has worked in several independent advisory firms. Earlier in his career he was an economist and later the director of special examinations for a federal financial regulatory agency.  He has served on a number of private company and non-profit business boards.  Mr. Johnson received a bachelor's degree in business and a master's degree in economics from Montana State University.  He also earned a master's degree in business from the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.   He is a Certified Franchise Executive.