COLUMBUS, OHIO — White Castle announced the promotion of Melissa Palmisciano from deputy general counsel to vice president and general counsel. She succeeds Anthony Joseph, who transitioned to president of White Castle.

“Melissa sets a high standard through the tenacity and diligence she exhibits to model White Castle’s value of continuous improvement,” Joseph said. “Her clarity of thought and strong work ethic will serve her well as she steps into her new role. She’s a great partner and source of support for her fellow leaders at White Castle, and a tremendous contributor to our efforts to be a great place to work.”

Palmisciano joined White Castle as corporate counsel in 2018, providing key legal leadership in areas like intellectual property, real estate, litigation and employment law. Her over two-decade-long career prior to joining the company was comprised of combined active duty and reserve service in the US Marine Corps. In 2020, she retired as a lieutenant colonel after serving as an intelligence officer, defense counsel, prosecutor and staff legal adviser. After leaving active duty, Palmisciano practiced law in the Columbus offices of BakerHostetler and Jones Day.

Palmisciano graduated from the US Naval Academy and The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law. She currently serves on the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation board of directors.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to serve as White Castle's next vice president and general counsel,” Palmisciano said. “During my time in the Marine Corps, I learned that effective leadership requires decisiveness, clear communication and a strong focus on continuous improvement. I’m thankful to be part of a team at White Castle that is focused on our mission of ‘creating memorable moments’ for our customers and team members for generations to come — and looking forward to what I’m able to contribute through my new role.”