Gong Cha Enters 2026 With New Leadership: Gong Cha, a popular bubble tea brand has made some big changes to the people in charge. They want to help Gong Cha grow and do better in countries. The people, in charge of Gong Cha want to make sure the company is run in a way that works well for each place it’s in. This means Gong Cha will have a team to make decisions and Gong Cha will be able to understand what people want in each area. Gong Cha is doing this to help the company do well in the run.
Leadership changes are. They are focused on growth in different regions. The company is making these changes to help the regions grow. Regional growth is very important, to the company. That is why they are making these leadership changes. This will help the company do well in all the regions.
Gong Cha wants to make sure everything runs smoothly and that all stores look and feel the same. So Gong Cha has put people in charge who have a lot of experience to take care of Gong Chas areas around the world.
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The Asia-Pacific operations are getting a direction now. This is a change for the Asia-Pacific operations. The new direction for the Asia-Pacific operations is going to make things different. The people in charge of the Asia-Pacific operations are making sure everything goes smoothly.
The Asia-Pacific operations are very important. This new direction is a big deal for the Asia-Pacific operations. It will be interesting to see how the new direction, for the Asia-Pacific operations works out. The Asia-Pacific operations are going to change. It will be good to see what happens to the Asia-Pacific operations.
Keaton Myburgh, who joined the company in 2023 has been named General Manager, for the Asia-Pacific region.
He will focus on the Asia-Pacific region in his role. The things he will do are:
- Supporting franchise partners
- Improving operational efficiency
- Driving sustainable growth across APAC markets
- Maintaining brand consistency across countries
The fact that he got promoted shows that Gong Cha really wants people in charge to be directly involved in the regions they are leading. This is what Gong Cha is about having leaders who are hands on and know what is going on in each region that is why his promotion is a big deal, for Gong Cha.
The EMEA region is getting a leader. This is a change for the EMEA region. The EMEA region will have someone, in charge now.
For the Europe Middle East and Africa region Jemma Smoker has been appointed as General Manager. She will be, in charge of the Europe, Middle East and Africa region and her tasks will include:
- Managing regional operations
- Expanding the brand’s presence in EMEA markets
- Strengthening franchise support systems
The leaders of Gong Cha joined the company in 2023. They have taken on a lot of work and more responsibilities, at Gong Cha very quickly.
The marketing team has been made bigger so it can get people in the local area involved with what we do. This means the marketing team will be doing things to engage with people who live nearby. The goal of the marketing team is to get people, in the community to care about what we are doing.
Gong Cha is making some changes. They have leaders now. Gong Cha is also working on its marketing plan, around the world. They are giving jobs to people who know what they are doing. This will help Gong Cha with its marketing strategy. Gong Cha wants to promote its brand. It is appointing experienced professionals to do this job. Gong Cha is really focusing on its marketing strategy.
Here are the important things that are happening with marketing:
Sepanta Bagherpour is now the Chief Marketing Officer for the Americas and EMEA. He has a lot of experience in marketing over 20 years. Sepanta Bagherpour has worked with people around the world which is really good for the Chief Marketing Officer position, at the Americas and EMEA. Sepanta Bagherpour will use his marketing experience to help the company.
Maya Murasawa has been given a role as the Head of Marketing for Japan. This means Maya Murasawa is now in charge of the marketing team in Japan. Maya Murasawa will be responsible for making decisions about marketing, in Japan.
Jina Jeeyoung C named CMO for South Korea and APAC
These appointments show that Gong Cha really cares about what its customers want and need and they are trying to make their marketing work for the people who live in each area so their franchisees can have a good relationship with the people in their communities. Gong Cha wants to make sure their franchisees can connect with the people, around them.
Gong Cha 2.0: A Smarter Franchise Operating Model
The people in charge of Gong Cha are making some changes. This is happening after they started Gong Cha 2.0 which’s a big update to the way Gong Cha works around the world. This new way of doing things is supposed to do a things for Gong Cha, such, as:
- Improve operational efficiency
- Simplify processes for franchise owners
- Strengthen support across the global network
- Enable faster and more scalable growth
The Gong Cha initiative is part of Gong Chas effort to make Gong Chas business more modern. This will help Gong Cha stay competitive in the beverage sector, which is growing fast.
Franchise Overview: Costs and Key Requirements (U.S. Market)
For entrepreneurs interested in joining the Gong Cha franchise system, here is a snapshot of the estimated U.S. franchise investment for 2025–2026:
Franchise Costs & Fees
Initial Franchise Fee: Around $41,500 per unit (range: $34,500–$41,500)
- Estimated Initial Investment: $177,430 – $335,400, depending on location and store size
- Royalty Fee: 6% of weekly net sales
- Brand Marketing Fee: 1%–2% of weekly net sales
- Franchise Agreement Term: 10 years
Financial Qualifications
- Minimum Net Worth: Approximately $300,000
- Liquid Capital Requirement: Up to $150,000, depending on the market
Gong Cha wants to work with partners who have a lot of money. This is because Gong Cha is looking for people who can help them grow over a period of time. Gong Cha needs partners like this to support their goals for the future. Gong Cha is really focused on finding the partners to help them achieve long term growth, with Gong Cha.
Gong Cha has a team of leaders and they are doing more to market the brand. They are also introducing Gong Cha 2.0. This means Gong Cha is getting ready to do all around the world. Gong Cha wants to grow and be successful in countries. They want to make sure everything runs smoothly and that Gong Cha stores get the help they need. Gong Cha is really committed to growing in a way and being the best they can be, for a long time.
What Do You Think?
Q: Do you think Gong Cha’s leadership overhaul and updated franchise model will make it more attractive to new franchise investors in 2026?
Comment boxes are open for your answers.
Also Read: Gong Cha Unveils Gong Cha 2.0 with Automated Tea-Making and Store Upgrades
