Global Franchise 9.1

W e’re not a one-trick pony. We can service members’ needs on multiple issues, and elevate where we need to with Capitol Hill, the administration and in states,” said Matthew Haller when he stepped up as IFA President and CEO in June 2021 after a decade at the organization in a variety of roles. It’s not a brief he’s taken lightly. From the get-go, Haller has tenaciously advocated for franchising while maintaining even-handedness for all stakeholders – his trademark fairness, focus and approachability cementing him as a popular and respected figurehead. In February, Haller was invited into Global Franchise’s 2024 Hall of Fame in recognition of his impact as a powerful advocate for franchising during challenging times. “Thank you to Global Franchise for selecting me for this award. I don’t view this award as about me – it’s for the entire team at the IFA, the staff who help protect, enhance and promote franchising every single day and on behalf of IFA members and the broader franchise community,” he said in his acceptance speech. We caught up with the IFA CEO at the International Franchise Show in London where he sat down with Global Franchise editor, Charlotte Smith, to reflect on his role. ON PERSONAL DRIVE. . . I’ve been in franchising for over 12 years and what motivates me most is the people. Franchising is all about relationships and I’m driven to advocate for the improvement and the betterment of the business model on behalf of both franchisors and franchisees by working with government and the media to raise awareness, as well as making the model even better through our work at the IFA. ON LEADERSHIP. . . Accessibility is important. At the IFA we have such a range of stakeholders from big global brands to small and emerging franchises, and they vary in their needs. You can get stuck if you create a bubble around yourself and don’t have a full appreciation for the needs of the communities who you represent, and that’s not a trap I want to fall into. When I took this job, I made a point of putting myself out there and really listening to the needs of the franchising community. I went back to my team at the IFA and said, “Okay, here’s what I’m hearing, now how do we use it to build a strategy to best advance the interests of our members?” ON DEFINING THE IFA’S STANCE. . . The IFA is the kitchen table of franchising, bringing all the stakeholders together. Our board of directors is reflective of our broader community – big companies, small companies, big franchisees, small franchisees, suppliers – and all the different industries represented in franchising. At the end of the day, we have a mission to protect, enhance and promote franchising. The model only works when franchisors and franchisees’ interests are aligned and they’re both generating profit and creating value for one another. POWER BRANDS MATTHEW HALLER | PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE ASSOCIATION (IFA) Hall of Fame criteria Inductees will have influenced the past, present and future of franchising, and the winner is always someone who’s name is synonymous with the industry GLOBAL FRANCHI SE AWARDS 20 GLOBAL FRANCHISE | ISSUE 9.1