Since January 2014, Neal Courtney has served as the CEO of Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids. Under his leadership, Cookie Cutters has earned a spot on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 for seven consecutive years and has been named “Best in Category” for two years running. The brand is also recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most affordable franchises in the U.S., with 122 locations currently open, 8 under construction, and agreements to launch 25 more by mid-2026.

In addition to his role at Cookie Cutters, Neal is an advisor and Board Member for several franchise concepts and an operating partner with a private equity firm. Previously, he was the CEO of Famous Brands International, the parent company of Mrs. Fields Cookies and TCBY. With over 25 years of leadership experience spanning franchising, retail, consumer packaged goods, and e-commerce, Neal brings a wealth of expertise to the table.

A 2x NCAA Academic All-American Athlete, Neal holds an MBA in Finance from the Marriott School of Management at BYU. Originally from Toronto, Canada, he now resides in Salt Lake City, Utah.