Executive Movements - January 2021

Plano-based Main Event Entertainment has a new chief operating officer

BY JAMES HARTLEY

JANUARY 14, 2021 09:00 AM

Plano’s Main Event Entertainment had a change in leadership Thursday as Tony Wehner took on the roll of the company’s chief operating officer, according to a news release.

Wehner, who has been COO of Bar Louie and chief executive officer of BigShots Golf, will take on responsibility for the customer experience for the 20 million people who visit a location each year, according to the release.

CEO Chris Morris said Main Event is excited Wehner is joining the executive team.

“His passion for the entertainment and hospitality industry is exactly what we were looking for in a leader, and his pedigree of building world-class teams is an asset we are very fortunate to be adding to our team as we enter 2021,” Morris said in the release.

Main Event is operating 39 of its 44 locations across 17 states, using rules meant to stop the spread of COVID to keep customers safe. The entertainment venue offers bowling, laser tag, billiards and a gaming gallery with 120 arcade games.

View source version at Main Event Entertainment

Marco's Pizza® Promotes Tony Libardi to Co-CEO

Under Libardi's Leadership the Pizza Franchise Positions for Long-Term Growth and Aggressive National Expansion

Jan 13, 2021, 09:15 ET

TOLEDO, Ohio, Jan. 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- In a move to bolster its growth strategy and strengthen the brand following a record-breaking year, Marco's Pizza announces the promotion of President & Chief Operating Officer Tony Libardi, to Co-CEO & President effective Dec. 28, 2020. In preparation for a long-term transition of leadership, Libardi joins forces with Jack Butorac who has been Chief Executive Officer since 2004. Together, their deeply rooted passion and understanding of leadership and innovation allows Marco's to seamlessly deliver results, profitability and growth for its franchisees and other stakeholders.

Libardi provides a strong resume of accomplishments since joining the brand from Burger King in 2014 boosting same store sales growth, doubling store count and driving profitability for franchisees. With 30-years' experience in restaurant operations, Libardi put Marco's in a position to accelerate growth by moving to a single point-of-sale system, instituting operational standards, launching Marco's first national advertising program, and strengthening its digital sales by introducing enhanced online ordering, a mobile app, and embracing third-party delivery services. This solid foundation matched with his focus on performance and enhanced communications with his leadership team and the field, enabled him to lead the Marco's Pizza team to achieve a record-setting year in 2020, despite the challenges brought on by the pandemic.

Libardi led the Marco's team to achieve historic record-breaking sales, pilot new innovations, sign 114 new store commitments, and open more than 70 new locations, including the brand's milestone 1,000th store – all while supporting communities nationwide via its 'You can Count on Marco's Pizza' commitment.

"To say Tony is deserving of this promotion would be an understatement," said Butorac, now Chairman & Co-CEO at Marco's. "Under Tony's leadership, Marco's evolved into a performance-driven culture that revolves around putting 'People First.'  Marco's has doubled in size with a tremendous group of franchise partners. We are very proud of the dedication, commitment and the overall impact he's had on this brand. I'm confident Tony will be a driving force behind the continued success of Marco's as we head into a new era as a 1,000-plus unit national brand."

The brand's impressive expansion has earned multiple awards wins, including being ranked No. 2 in the Pizza Category on Entrepreneur's Franchise 500 and nabbing the No. 2 spot again on Entrepreneur's List of Top Franchises to Buy in 2020. Marco's has set aggressive expansion goals to nearly double new store commitments in 2021 as it seeks single and multi-unit operators throughout the United States and internationally.

"It has been an honor to be part of the tremendous growth of this brand," said Libardi. "The success we've seen is a collective effort of our incredible executive leadership team, our committed Support Center, and all our franchisees and team members at the store level who deliver on our brand promise each and every day. I am humbled to step into this new role and drive our brand's stellar reputation forward as we catapult Marco's into the national spotlight."

Libardi's hard work, dedication, and commitment to Marco's has not gone unnoticed. His efforts have been instrumental in setting the business foundation for the Marco's of the future, as he sets his eyes on the next 1,000 stores. By focusing on People, Business and Community Health, Marco's has been able to pivot and quickly change its policies, operations and marketing to align with its future path.

The pandemic accelerated several innovations and pilot programs including piloting ghost kitchens in several strategic markets, rapid expansion of third-party delivery, new contact-free delivery and curbside pickup options and testing of robotic kitchen innovations that improve efficiencies without compromising pizza quality or craftmanship. Marco's is committed to the future and beyond as the company continues to push forward with new openings and signed agreements during the COVID era.

As the only national pizza franchise founded by a native Italian, Marco's has carved out a niche in the industry for authentic Italian quality pizza. The brand is known for its fresh dough made in-store daily, three signature cheeses that are fresh, never-frozen, and its original sauce recipe from founder Pasquale Giammarco.

Opening a new store every three and a half days on average, the Top 50% of its franchised stores generated $918,047 AUV for 2019*. For more information on Marco's Pizza franchise opportunities, visit www.marcosfranchising.com or call 866-731-8209.

ABOUT MARCO'S PIZZA 

Marco's Pizza is America's Most Loved and Most Trusted Pizza Brand, according to the 2019 Harris Poll EquiTrend® Study. Headquartered in Toledo, Ohio, Marco's Pizza is one of the fastest-growing pizza companies in the United States. Marco's was founded in 1978 by Italian-born Pasquale ("Pat") Giammarco and thrives by making authentic Italian quality pizza with fresh ingredients. The company has grown from its roots as a beloved Ohio brand to operate over 1,000 stores in 34 states with locations in Puerto Rico and the Bahamas. Most recently, Marco's Pizza was ranked No. 2 in the Pizza category on Entrepreneur Magazine's 2020 "Franchise 500" ranking, and No. 6 in the Largest Pizza Chain category on Restaurant Business' 2020 "Top 500 Chains" ranking. Other recent accolades include ranking No. 4 in Forbes 2019 "Best Franchises to Buy" Small/Medium Investment and ranking five consecutive years on Nation's Restaurant News' prestigious "Top 200" ranking.

*Based on the Average Unit Volume of the top 50% of our Franchised Stores for fiscal year 2019. Based on fiscal year 2019, 127 of 291 Franchised Stores in the category (38%) met or exceeded this average. This information appears in Item 19 of our 2020 FDD – please refer to our FDD for complete information on financial performance. Results may differ. There is no assurance that any franchisee will perform as well.

View source version at Marco's Pizza

Slice Announces New Board Member

Kat Cole, former COO and President of Focus Brands, to Join Slice’s Board of Directors

January 12, 2021 08:47 AM Eastern Standard Time

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Slice — the innovative tech platform powering America’s local pizzerias — announced today that Kat Cole has joined its board of directors.

Cole has an impressive background as a strategic leader with deep experience with omnichannel consumer brands, global expansion, restaurant operations, and franchising. She spent the last decade at Focus Brands in progressively larger executive roles, first as the president of Cinnabon, then as group president of Focus Brands overseeing licensing, manufacturing, and CPG, and finally as chief operating officer (COO) and president of Focus Brands for the last four years.

As COO, she was responsible for all seven of its global brands: Auntie Anne’s, Carvel, Cinnabon, Moe’s, McAlister’s, Schlotzsky’s, and Jamba, as well as the Licensing and International divisions responsible for building the brands in over 55 countries. Cole is credited for driving the turnaround of the Cinnabon business, building that franchise and its multi-channel business into a $1B brand, and for leading strong teams, innovation, and organizational change to support the growth of the company, franchisees, and brands.

“We are so pleased to have Kat join the Slice board. Her significant experience growing companies will undoubtedly help Slice achieve our long-term business objectives,” said Ilir Sela, founder and CEO of Slice. “She’s a powerful operator and change agent with industry-specific experience and a deep understanding of how technology is reshaping restaurants and retail. She will bring valued expertise to Slice - especially as we double-down on our growth and Slice Accelerate.”

Slice recently announced its 2021 goal of $1B in GMV at the recent Goldman Sachs Private Innovative Company Conference, signaling the company’s rapid growth. In June 2020, Slice announced that it had surpassed $1B in cumulative sales since its founding in 2010.

About Slice

Slice transforms independent pizzerias with the specialized technology, marketplace, data insights, digital marketing, and business services they need to serve today’s digital-minded customers, all at a low fixed cost per order. Enabling these small businesses to thrive in today’s competitive environment, Slice makes it easy for customers to order from their go-to shops and discover their next favorite. Serial entrepreneur Ilir Sela started Slice to solve his family’s New York City pizzerias’ digital challenges. Today, the company partners with over 14,000 pizzerias across 3,000 cities in all 50 states forming the nation’s largest digital marketplace for authentic pizza.

For more information on Slice’s product and company, visit slicelife.com, and follow Slice on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.

View source version at Slice

California Pizza Kitchen Announces New Board Members

Announcement Follows Successful Completion of Financial Restructuring Process and Emergence From Chapter 11

January 12, 2021 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) announced today the appointment of four new board members – Robert Webster, current co-founder and Senior Managing Director of Twin Haven Capital Partners; Jeff D. Warne, Principal at Croesus Capital, LLC; Michael P. O’Donnell, Executive Chairman of Ruth’s Hospitality Group; and Daniel M. Kokini, Managing Director at FTI Consulting. They join Jim Hyatt, Chief Executive Officer of California Pizza Kitchen and a board member since January 2018.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Robert, Jeff, Michael, and Daniel to the board as we continue to build on our business momentum following our successful restructuring in November,” said Jim Hyatt, Chief Executive Officer of California Pizza Kitchen. “Their combined knowledge and expertise in the food and hospitality business, corporate finance and investment strategy strengthen CPK and will help us accelerate our growth plans in the U.S. and abroad. It’s an exciting time for CPK.”

California Pizza Kitchen’s new board members are:

1. Robert Webster, Co-Founder and Senior Managing Director at Twin Haven Capital Partners, LLC, which is engaged in investment management principally for large institutions. Mr. Webster has over 35 years of diverse financial, business and transactional leadership experience. He has served on or chaired 16 corporate boards across an array of industries including having chaired boards of directors for companies engaged in the casual and family dining restaurant sectors.

2. Jeff D. Warne, Principal of Croesus Capital, LLC, has extensive experience as a C-Suite Executive in the food and restaurant industries. He has served as President and CEO of Perkins, Marie Callender’s, LLC, and O’Charley’s Inc. Prior to that, he was President of Pick Up Stix; COO of TGI Friday’s International, and CFO of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide. Mr. Warne holds an MBA from the University of Chicago and a BS in Accounting from St. Cloud State University, and is also a Certified Public Accountant and Chartered Financial Analyst.

3. Michael P. O’Donnell is the current Chairman of the board of Ruth’s Hospitality Group Inc, the parent company of Ruth’s Chris Steak House, and spent the prior 12 years as its CEO & Chairman. Mr. O’Donnell brings broad and deep experience in the restaurant business having also served on multiple private and public company boards including Hickory Tavern, a Rosser Capitol portfolio company, Logan’s Roadhouse, Cosi, Sbarro, The Ground Round, and Champps Entertainment. Mr. O’Donnell holds a BA in English from Rollins College is a current member of the Rollins College Board of Trustees.

4. Daniel M. Kokini is a Managing Director at FTI Consulting, which he joined in 2017 through its acquisition of CDG Group. Mr. Kokini has nearly 15 years of restructuring, leveraged finance, capital markets, and M&A experience. He has served as an advisor in many aspects of strategic, financial, and operational restructuring on behalf of companies, creditors, and shareholders. Prior to joining CDG Group in 2012, Mr. Kokini held roles in investment banking at BofA Merrill Lynch and Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc., and a corporate finance role at Broadview Networks. Mr. Kokini holds a BS in Finance, cum laude, from the Pennsylvania State University.

About California Pizza Kitchen

In 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) opened its first restaurant in Beverly Hills and introduced diners to innovative California-style pizza. With a passion for combining fresh, seasonal ingredients with flavor inspirations from around the world, today CPK is a global brand serving creative California cuisine in more than 200 restaurants in 8 countries and U.S. territories. From signature, hand-tossed pizzas and high-quality main plates to inventive better-for-you options, Lunch Duos, premium wines and handcrafted beverages, CPK adds its imaginative twist to create a memorable dining experience. For more information, visit cpk.com. Connect with CPK on Twitter at @calpizzakitchen, Instagram at @cpk, and Facebook at facebook.com/californiapizzakitchen. Download the CPK Rewards™ app for iOS and Android to earn rewards for dining creatively, pay by mobile, order online and more.

View source version at California Pizza Kitchen

Biscuitville president adds title of CEO

01.11.2021

By Jeff Gelski

GREENSBORO, NC. — Kathie S. Niven, president of Biscuitville Fresh Southern, has taken on the additional role of chief executive officer. Burney Jennings, formerly the CEO, will become executive chair.

Ms. Niven joined the family-owned restaurant chain in 2011. As chief brand officer, she oversaw the creation of Biscuitville’s Fresh Southern brand positioning, which included a new logo, restaurant redesign, packaging, employee uniforms and trademarking. She authored a food innovation process called the “Menu Management Assembly,” which produced the locally sourced Spicy Chicken and Honey Biscuit, the most successful launch in the company’s history. Ms. Niven was named president of Biscuitville in 2018.

“Kathie has tremendous passion and a deep knowledge of Biscuitville and its culture, and she’s fully prepared to assume the role of chief executive officer,” Mr. Jennings said. “Biscuitville has thrived under Kathie’s leadership as president during the last several years, and I’m thrilled that she has accepted new responsibilities as chief executive officer. I will continue to play an important role at Biscuitville but have ultimate confidence in Kathie’s ability to keep our company focused on its core principles and continue our expansion model.”

Maurice Jennings, the late father of Burney Jennings, founded Greensboro-based Biscuitville in 1966 when he opened two pizza restaurants in Burlington, NC. He later added fresh-baked biscuits, which became so popular that the brand evolved to become Biscuitville. The company now operates 62 restaurants in North Carolina and Virginia.

“Burney and his father Maurice Jennings built a foundation of mutual respect among all team members at Biscuitville and a legacy of serving high quality, locally sourced food,” Ms. Niven said. “I look forward to continuing their vision for Biscuitville and being a good steward of their people-first culture. Our commitment to diversity and accessibility begins with me, and as a female executive, my role reinforces our shared belief that we cannot limit our vision of what leadership may look like.”

Before joining Biscuitville, Ms. Niven was vice president of field marketing for Quiznos Corp. and in a variety of marketing roles at RTM/Arby’s Roast Beef Corp., Burger King Corp. and Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp. She received a bachelor of arts degree in English with a minor in communications at Elon University in Elon, NC.

View source version at Biscuitville

Eureka Names Eric Berman President

Former CEO and director Justin Nedelman has departed the regional casual-dining chain.

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 08, 2021

The 24-unit Eureka gastropub chain has promoted Eric Berman, its chief restaurant operations officer for the last four years, to president.

The appointment came simultaneous with the departure of CEO and co-founder Justin Nedelman. No reason was given for the departure of Nedelman, who also held a seat on Eureka’s board.

Prior to joining the chain, Berman spent nine years with BJ’s Restaurants, where he oversaw 45 restaurants as senior regional VP. His group was generating annual sales of $225 million at the time he left to join Eureka, according to his current employer.

Previously, Berman spent 15 years with The Cheesecake factory, which he joined when the polished-casual concept had only five restaurants. It now has about 200-plus branches.

“Eric’s passion and leadership are contagious; his ability to motivate, inspire and maximize the performance of every restaurant is best in class,” said Eureka co-founder and Chief Development Officer Paul Frederick.

Eureka is known for its wide selection of beer and whiskey, all sourced domestically, as well as its cocktails.

Its restaurants are located in California, Texas, Washington, Idaho and Nevada.

View source version at Eureka

Starbucks Announces Chief Financial Officer Succession

January, 7 2021

Patrick Grismer, executive vice president and cfo, will retire in May 2021 - Rachel Ruggeri, senior vice president of Finance, Americas, promoted to executive vice president and cfo, effective February 1, 2021

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ: SBUX) today announced that after a more than 35-year career in finance, Patrick Grismer has decided to retire from his position as executive vice president and chief financial officer (cfo) of the Company effective February 1, 2021. Rachel Ruggeri, senior vice president of Finance, Americas and a 16-year Starbucks partner, will succeed Grismer as executive vice president and cfo, effective February 1, 2021. Ruggeri will report to Kevin Johnson, Starbucks president and chief executive officer. Grismer will remain with the company as an advisor to Johnson through May 2, 2021, to ensure a smooth transition.

“I want to thank Pat for his leadership and his many contributions to Starbucks through this period of unprecedented change and transformative growth. He has played an important role helping the company deliver on our Growth at Scale agenda while building a strong finance team with deep expertise, and I remain as confident as ever in the future of Starbucks,” said Johnson. “On behalf of the Board of Directors and all Starbucks partners, I want to wish Pat all the best as he enters the next chapter of his life.”

“It has been an honor to be a Starbucks partner, and I am proud of the significant progress we have made to drive our growth strategy and unlock considerable shareholder value over the past two years,” said Grismer. “I believe Starbucks is operating from a position of strength, with a long runway of profitable growth ahead. Rachel has long been a key member of our senior finance team, and I am confident that her experience and strong leadership capabilities will help to ensure that Starbucks continues to drive improved operating performance and disciplined execution of our Growth at Scale agenda.”

“It gives me great confidence to know that Rachel, a long-time Starbucks colleague and a seasoned financial executive, is stepping into this role,” said Johnson. “Not only does she have a comprehensive understanding of the food, beverage and retail industry and deep knowledge of our business, she is also passionate about the Starbucks brand and is highly respected by her colleagues across the organization. I look forward to working closely with Rachel in her new role to further fuel Starbucks success and drive value for all of our stakeholders by continuing to deliver consistent and predictable sales growth and margin expansion while investing in key strategic initiatives to ensure we even further differentiate Starbucks position over time.”

Ruggeri has 28 years of experience in accounting, financial planning and analysis, and business process improvement. Working closely with Grismer as senior vice president of Finance, Americas, Ruggeri is highly respected by partners across the global enterprise, leading all aspects of business planning and financial performance management, with a specific focus on creating synergy and leveraging best practices across the broader organization. She first joined Starbucks in 2001 as a member of the accounting team, where, in her first year, she helped to launch the first Starbucks Card, now the foundation of Starbucks industry-leading digital engagement platform and a significant growth driver for the company.

During her tenure at Starbucks, Ruggeri has held a variety of finance positions of increasing responsibility, including vice president of Corporate Financial Planning and Analysis, vice president of Finance in support of the U.S. Business, and senior vice president of Finance for Global Retail. In addition to her time at Starbucks, Ruggeri has held several financial leadership roles supporting social service organizations, and also within the food and beverage industry, including serving as Continental Mills’ chief financial officer.

Ruggeri holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Puget Sound and a Master of Business Administration degree from Washington State University.

View source version at Starbucks

Inspire Brands Hires Michael Haley as International President

The veteran of Pret a Manger and Starbucks will build on the overseasl base provided by Inspire’s purchase of Dunkn’ Brands.

By Peter Romeo on Jan. 06, 2021

In its first major corporate move since acquiring Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins, Arby’s parent Inspire Brands has hired Pret A Manger and Starbucks veteran Michael Haley as president and managing director of international operations.

Haley, who reports directly to Inspire CEO Paul Brown, is responsible for expanding all of Inspire’s brands outside of the U.S.  In addition to Arby’s and the two concepts acquired through the $11.3 billion acquisition of Dunkin’ Brands, those holdings include Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW), Sonic, Jimmy John’s and Rusty Taco.

Before the Dunkin’ deal, Inspire had only 200 restaurants operating abroad, and all of those flying the BWW or Arby’s flag. Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins bring nearly 9,000 international locations to the international division. With that addition, about 40% of Inspire’s restaurants are now located outside of the United States, according to Brown.

It will be Haley’s job to build off that base, starting with the expansion of BWW and Arby’s.  He is also responsible for international operations and relations with existing overseas partners.

In an interview with Restaurant Business, Haley said that his initial focus will be on stoking interest in Inspire’s other brands among the restaurant companies that currently operate Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbin outlets abroad.

“I believe it’s always best to focus on existing partners in existing markets,” says Haley, who was previously chief partnership officer for Pret. With Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins now part of the family, “it’s really a gift because you have people in market who have local knowledge.”

Haley was not aware while being courted by Inspire that the company was planning to buy Dunkin’, which lands high on the list of U.S. chains ranked by their presence overseas. “They kept asking me things like, ‘What do you think of the coffee market?’” he recalled. His interviewers also asked him what U.S. brands he admired because of their international operations, a list that apparently included Dunkin’, which he’d run up against during his time with Pret and Starbucks. But “I learned about from the media, like everyone else,” he said.

The pleasant surprise of having Dunkin’ in-house provides Haley with a solid international foundation and structure. But he says there’s still a need to fill out his team within Inspire’s Atlanta headquarters, where he’ll now be based.

Interviewed near the end of his first week on the job, Haley acknowledges that he’s not reached the point of setting milestones for Inspire’s overseas expansion. “There isn’t a need to plant flags for the sake of that,” he says. “I’m trying to create a vision that includes knowing where to aim. It’s easy to say, ‘In five years, this is how big we went to be.’ But how do we get there? We need to figure out that journey.”

Part of that effort may be figuring out how Inspire’s legacy brands may need to be tweaked overseas. For instance, one of Arby’s domestic strengths is having drive-thrus. Abroad, consumers aren’t as car-based as their American counterparts. “I haven’t owned a car in 14 years,” says Haley.

That challenge may be particularly pointed for Sonic, which serves customers as they sit in their cars in a classic drive-in format. The brand is the largest U.S. restaurant chain without a presence overseas, according to Inspire.

Given Inspire’s penchant for growing domestically through acquisitions, will be identifying potential purchases abroad be part of his mission?

“We’re always open to other opportunities,” he says. “I think that’s a shared responsibility across the whole executive team.” And internationally, “we have ground to grow.”

View source version at Inspire Brands

Darden Board of Directors Elects CEO Eugene I. Lee, Jr. as Chair; Darden Names Ricardo Cardenas as President and Chief Operating Officer; Rajesh Vennam Named Chief Financial Officer

Dec 18, 2020, 07:01 ET

ORLANDO, Fla., Dec. 18, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The Darden Restaurants, Inc. (NYSE:DRI) Board of Directors has elected Chief Executive Officer Eugene (Gene) I. Lee, Jr. as Chairman of the Board, succeeding Charles (Chuck) M. Sonsteby, effective January 4, 2021. Mr. Sonsteby will become the Board's Lead Independent Director.

"At a time of unprecedented change in our industry, the Board concluded that it is in the best interests of the Company to combine the roles of Chairman and CEO in order to drive the most efficient execution of its long-term strategy," said Sonsteby. "Gene is an extraordinary leader with a passion for our business and team members resulting from decades of restaurant operating experience and successful executive leadership. He has delivered significant value for shareholders and we believe this is the right time for him to assume this role."

Mr. Lee became chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors in 2015.

"I am honored to serve as the Chairman of the Board of Directors. I want to thank Chuck for his leadership and mentorship as Chairman. Strong independent leadership on the Board is important and I am confident that as the Lead Independent Director, Chuck will continue to provide strong leadership and oversight to Darden," said Mr. Lee.

Additionally, Ricardo (Rick) Cardenas has been named President and Chief Operating Officer. Mr. Cardenas has served as Darden's Chief Financial Officer since 2016.

Prior to being named CFO, Mr. Cardenas served as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer. He began his career with Darden as an hourly employee in 1984, before joining the restaurant support center team in 1992 as an Auditor. From there he held increasingly more responsible positions including Director of Corporate Development, Director of Finance and Technology for Seasons 52, Vice President of Finance and Assistant Controller for Olive Garden, Senior Vice President of Finance and Controller for LongHorn Steakhouse, Senior Vice President of Finance and Controller for Red Lobster, and Executive Vice President of Operations for LongHorn Steakhouse.

Finally, the Company has named Rajesh (Raj) Vennam to the role of Chief Financial Officer. Mr. Vennam began his career at Darden in 2003 as a Sr. Business Analyst for Market Development. He went on to work as a Sr. Financial Analyst in Investment Analysis, Olive Garden Marketing Analysis, and Treasury; and eventually as a Manager of Treasury prior to being promoted to Director of Financial Planning & Analysis for LongHorn in 2010. In 2013, Mr. Vennam joined Red Lobster as a Sr. Director and progressed to Senior Vice President of Financial Planning & Analysis and Treasury. He returned to Darden in 2016 as Senior Vice President, Finance & Analytics, assuming additional responsibilities as Treasurer in 2020.

"The organizational changes announced today reflect our intention to provide Rick and Raj a diversity of experience while creating growth opportunities for them. Rick has been a strong partner over the past five years and this role will provide him the opportunity to oversee new areas of the business while broadening his influence across Darden," said Lee.

Lee continued, "Raj has done an exceptional job in his current role at Darden. His promotion to CFO recognizes his significant contributions and will allow him to broaden his responsibilities while assuming a more strategic role across Darden."

These organizational changes will take effect on January 4, 2021.

About Darden

Darden is a restaurant company featuring a portfolio of differentiated brands that include Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse, Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen, Yard House, The Capital Grille, Seasons 52, Bahama Breeze and Eddie V's. For more information, please visit www.darden.com.

View source version at Darden

Focus Brands Appoints New Brand Executives and Names Chief People Officer

New brand management and brand marketing roles named; HR veteran takes on new post

Dec 17, 2020, 11:45 ET

ATLANTA, Dec. 17, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Focus Brands®, parent company of iconic brands Auntie Anne's®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, Moe's Southwest Grill®, McAlister's Deli® and Schlotzsky's®, today announced newly appointed executive brand management and marketing leadership to oversee the strategic direction of some of its brands and continue to drive brand relevance and market share.

The appointments include the following: Kendall Ware, chief brand officer for Carvel and Cinnabon; Alisa Gmelich, chief brand officer for Auntie Anne's; Cynthia Liu, vice president of Marketing for Auntie Anne's and Danielle Porto Parra, vice president of Marketing for McAlister's Deli. Additionally, with the company's continuing focus on recruitment, retention and company culture, Melissa Smith, SPHR, MBA will take the helm as chief people officer for Focus Brands.

"This year has been about refining our structure and our brands to accelerate performance and prepare us for the future," said Focus Brands CEO Jim Holthouser. "As we end 2020, I know we have the right talent, with the right strategies in place to take our brands and our business to the next level."

Kendall Ware, Chief Brand Officer, Carvel and Cinnabon Kendall Ware has joined Carvel and Cinnabon as chief brand officer, where he is responsible for all aspects of brand management for the two specialty brands, including franchise and company operations, as well as marketing. He is an experienced franchise and operations leader and has 15 years of experience growing brands, developing teams and enhancing operations. Most recently, Ware served as president and chief operating officer of Orange Leaf where, under his leadership, the brand turned around a seven-year sales decline to achieve two consecutive years of same-store sales growth and increased AUV. He has also worked for CiCi's Pizza, hospitality and retail executive search firm Patrice & Associates and Genghis Grill.

Alisa Gmelich, Chief Brand Officer, Auntie Anne's Alisa Gmelich has joined Auntie Anne's as chief brand officer, where she will lead the global brand's operations, marketing and brand management. She is succeeding Heather Neary who will step down from her position as brand president of Auntie Anne's at the end of the year. Alisa has more than 25 years of experience leading marketing and strategic planning to grow brands and drive sales for top restaurant brands including McDonald's and Burger King, and for the past eight-plus years at IHOP, as vice president of Marketing and Strategic Planning. Gmelich has a strong background in franchising and has driven results as a focused leader, team builder, marketer and strategist. Gmelich will work closely with Neary to gain perspective as Neary transitions to the next phase of her career in January.

Cynthia Liu, Vice President of Marketing, Auntie Anne's Cynthia Liu has joined Auntie Anne's as vice president of Marketing from The Hershey Company, where she most recently served as director of partnerships and occasion marketing. During her time at Hershey's, she also held an international role working with the Mexico business and has worked on the flagship Hershey's brand as senior brand manager. With nearly 15 years in the food industry, Cynthia has also worked for the Kraft Heinz Company serving in several brand management roles for Jell-O, Grey Poupon and Shake 'N Bake.

Danielle Porto Parra, Vice President of Marketing, McAlister's Deli Danielle Porto Parra has joined McAlister's Deli as the vice president of Marketing. Parra has been in the hospitality and retail industry for more than 20 years, serving as chief marketing officer and head of eCommerce. Throughout her career, she has led company growth through a combination of brand experience and product innovation, personalized digital marketing, developed breakthrough creative and ensured a focus on profitable results. Most recently, Parra worked on building automotive aftermarket brands, including Pep Boys, AAMCO Transmissions and Total Car Care, Precision Tune Auto Care and Auto Plus, as well as Petco, Build.com and Caesars Entertainment Corporation. She started her career working for Darden Restaurants and Logan's Roadhouse.

Melissa Smith, SPHR, MBA, Chief People Officer, Focus Brands Melissa Smith was named chief people officer to lead human capital strategy and employee engagement to bring the company's workforce together to drive success. She and her team will be champions of HR across business functions to build culture, diversity and inclusion, while also focusing on recruitment and retention. She has worked at Focus Brands for nearly nine years and most recently served as SVP of Human Resources for the company, where she has helped the organization and its employees navigate through a time of great change during the pandemic.

About Focus Brands Atlanta-based Focus Brands is a leading developer of global multi-channel foodservice brands. Focus Brands, through its affiliate brands, is the franchisor and operator of more than 6,000 restaurants, cafes, ice cream shoppes, and bakeries in the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and over 50 foreign countries under the brand names Auntie Anne's®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, Moe's Southwest Grill®, McAlister's Deli®, and Schlotzsky's®, as well as Seattle's Best Coffee® on certain military bases and in certain international markets. Please visit www.focusbrands.com to learn more.

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Timothy Mullany to Join Jack in the Box Inc. as New Chief Financial Officer

December 17, 2020 04:05 PM Eastern Standard Time

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK) announced today that Timothy Mullany will join the company as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, effective January 18, 2021.

Mullany is a well-rounded finance leader with more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant industry, as well as hyper-growth concepts, both public and private. Most recently, Mullany served as Chief Financial Officer at VASA Fitness where he was responsible for leading the finance and accounting team plus developing and executing company growth strategies, including site acquisition and market entry development.

“We are excited for the addition of Tim to the Jack in the Box team. He has demonstrated strong financial leadership while supporting growing businesses in the restaurant industry. We are confident in his executive leadership ability to help continue the momentum being experienced at Jack in the Box,” said Darin Harris, Chief Executive Officer.

Previously, Tim was Chief Financial Officer at RAVE Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQCM: RAVE) where he helped scale Pie Five Pizza from a regional start up into one of the nation’s leading fast casual pizza concepts. Prior to that he held additional Chief Financial Officer roles at Restaurants Unlimited Inc. and Consumer Capital Partners, franchisor and operator of the Smashburger and Quiznos brands. Earlier in his career he also led the financial functions of Global Portfolio Advisors Ltd, its affiliate Outpost International, and Sea Research Foundation, along with founding Mystic Entertainment Company. His career began with positions in private equity and investment banking at J.P. Morgan and Bank of America, respectively, and KPMG LLP. Tim holds an MBA from Columbia Business School and a BS from Villanova University.

“I am thrilled to join Darin and the Jack in the Box team. I have been a longtime fan of the brand and with my experience in growing businesses, and specifically my knowledge within the restaurant industry, I look forward to leading the organization as it embarks on an accelerated growth strategy, in partnership with our employees and franchisees,” said Mullany.

About Jack in the Box:

Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK), based in San Diego, is a restaurant company that operates and franchises Jack in the Box® restaurants, one of the nation’s largest hamburger chains, with more than 2,200 restaurants in 21 states. Known as the pioneer of all-day breakfast, and the late night category, Jack in the Box prides itself on being the curly fry in a world of regular fries. For more information on Jack in the Box, including franchising opportunities, visit www.jackinthebox.com.

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Texas Roadhouse Appoints Jerry Morgan President

December 17, 2020

Louisville, KY  (RestaurantNews.com)  Texas Roadhouse, Inc. (NasdaqGS: TXRH) announced today that Regional Market Partner Jerry Morgan has been promoted to President of the Louisville-based restaurant company, effective January of 2021.

Morgan, who will relocate to Louisville, will report directly to Kent Taylor who will continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board. Taylor had assumed the role of President when the role was vacated in June of 2019.

Taylor commented, “Going from three jobs to two, will allow me to focus my additional time, energy, and creativity on our future growth, such as establishing Bubba’s 33 and Jaggers as segment leaders and expanding our retail initiatives, including Butcher Shop and our new Margarita Mix. I also want to expand our To-Go operations and have several other ideas that I think will propel Texas Roadhouse into the next decade.”

A 23-year veteran of Texas Roadhouse, Morgan has more than 35 years of restaurant management experience with Texas Roadhouse, Bennigan’s and Burger King.

Morgan started his Texas Roadhouse career in 1997 as Managing Partner of the company’s first restaurant in Texas. He earned the company’s most prestigious award, Managing Partner of the Year, in 2001 and was promoted to Market Partner later that year.

In 2015, Morgan was named Regional Market Partner, where he was responsible for overseeing more than 120 restaurants in 14 states.

Taylor continued, “Jerry brings great operational focus and leadership to an already stellar executive leadership team and is a perfect balance to our awesome field operations led by our Chief Operating Officer, Doug Thompson, and our Regional Market Partners.”

Both Morgan and Thompson along with Chief Financial Officer Tonya Robinson and a few other Louisville-based executives will report to Taylor.

Taylor added, “Jerry will spend his first few months listening, learning and serving alongside our folks at the Support Center in Louisville.”

Morgan commented, “I look forward to joining the amazing Support Center family, which does such an outstanding job of serving our operators. I have learned firsthand that hospitality just happens to be the name of our industry. It’s not just what we do. What we do best is to be great teammates, build relationships, and have a passion for serving others. Let’s go Roadhouse.”

About the Company

Texas Roadhouse is a casual dining concept that first opened in 1993 and today has grown to over 630 restaurants system-wide in 49 states and ten foreign countries. For more information, please visit the Company’s Web site at www.texasroadhouse.com.

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Shawn A. Taylor Appointed to Noodles & Company Board of Directors

December 16, 2020 16:05 ET

BROOMFIELD, Colo., Dec. 16, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Noodles & Company (NASDAQ: NDLS) today announced the appointment of Shawn A. Taylor as an independent member of its Board of Directors effective December 15, 2020.

Jeff Jones, Chairman of the Board of Noodles & Company commented, “We are thrilled to announce the addition of Shawn Taylor to our Board of Directors. Shawn is a proven leader in the restaurant industry and his strategic, franchising and operational experience will be a tremendous asset for our Company. We are confident he will make significant contributions to Noodles and we welcome him to our Board.”

Mr. Taylor most recently was president and operating partner of Zaxby’s Houston, LLC, a franchisee of the rapidly growing Zaxby’s restaurant chain. Begun in 2013, the franchise operation was sold in 2019. In 2011, Taylor joined a group of business leaders who formed the Houston Baseball Partners, LLC, which lead to the acquisition of the Houston Astros. He sold his interest in the Astros in 2017, but remained as an advisor. In 1996 he founded Family EATS L.P., serving as general partner, president, and CEO of the Taco Bell franchise in Houston, TX. During his tenure, he owned, developed, and operated thirty-three Taco Bell locations, which he successfully sold in 2007. Mr. Taylor started his career as a senior staff auditor at Arthur Andersen & Co., LLP in Dallas, TX.

Mr. Taylor has served on various boards, including Taco Bell’s Franchise Management Advisory Board, the Houston Astros Foundation, Cadence Bank, the accounting advisory council of the University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business, the Houston Zoo, the YMCA of Greater Houston, and the Boys and Girls Club of Houston. He has also received numerous awards throughout his career, including serving as the commencement speaker for the 226th Purdue University graduation and the 2019 Houston Community College graduation. He was awarded the Krannert Business Leadership Award from Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management and the Think Outside the Bun Award by Taco Bell Corporation for his community service following the Gulf Coast hurricanes. He was also named one of the Top 30 Influential Leaders by AACSB International’s Global Accrediting Body for Business Schools and Entrepreneur of the Year by Purdue University’s Krannert School of Management.

Mr. Taylor received his B.S. degree in accounting, with distinction, from Purdue University in 1982.

Mr. Taylor added, “I’m honored to join the Noodles & Company Board of Directors. I’ve been a fan of the brand for many years and I believe Noodles is well positioned for long-term success. I look forward to working with the entire team to help the Company accelerate its growth and realize its full potential.”

About Noodles & Company Since 1995, Noodles & Company has been serving noodles your way, from noodles and flavors that you know and love, to new ones you’re about to discover for the first time. From indulgent Wisconsin Mac & Cheese to good-for-you Zoodles, Noodles serves a world of flavor in every bowl. Made up of more than 450 restaurants and 8,000 passionate team members, Noodles is dedicated to nourishing and inspiring every guest who walks through the door. To learn more or find the location nearest you, visit www.noodles.com.

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Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Promotes Carissa De Santis to Chief Information Officer

December 16, 2020

World’s largest barbecue concept advances industry veteran to join in leading company

Dallas, TX  (RestaurantNews.com)  Dickey’s Barbecue Pit announced today that the company has promoted Carissa De Santis from vice president of information technology to chief information officer.

In June 2019, De Santis joined the Dickey’s team with the responsibility of overseeing all company technology platforms. At the beginning of the pandemic, De Santis led her IT team through a complete redesign of Dickey’s e-commerce site to optimize functionality for mobile users. The upgraded site features enhanced speed and performance, an elevated user experience with fewer clicks and an easier navigation to follow, all of which contributed to a 42% increase in Dickey’s digital sales and 122% increase in site traffic.

“To say Carissa is deserving of this promotion would be an understatement,” said Laura Rea Dickey, CEO of Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. “Under Carissa’s leadership, Dickey’s technology capabilities have grown tremendously, which has played a huge role in taking our brand to the next level. We are very proud to promote her for her dedicated work and the overall impact she’s made on our company.”

Over the past year and a half at Dickey’s, De Santis also revamped internal reporting and resource channels and integrated all third-party delivery partners into Chowly, a third-party delivery consolidation service, to streamline the online ordering system. The integration with Chowly resulted in a growth of off-promise sales of over 400%.

An industry veteran with more than 20 years of experience in both operations and technology, De Santis has coveted several recognitions for excellence in her field. In 2018, she served on the Technology Accelerator Award Winners Panel at the FSTEC Conference and in 2019, De Santis was named a rising star on Hospitality Technology’s Top Women in Restaurant Technology list. Additionally, Emerging.com named her as one of 2019’s Top 50 Women Innovators in the Restaurant Industry and most recently, De Santis was nominated for the Dallas CIO of the Year ORBIE Award.

“I am very honored and excited to take on this new role at Dickey’s,” De Santis said. “Our IT team has been challenged with many new developments since I began working here, and we’ve consistently risen to the occasion. With the help of cutting-edge technology, I can’t wait to watch our brand scale new heights.”

About Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc.

Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants, Inc., the world’s largest barbecue concept, was founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey. For the past 79 years, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has served millions of guests Legit. Texas. Barbecue.™ At Dickey’s, all our barbecued meats are smoked onsite in a hickory wood burning pit. Dickey’s proudly believes there’s no shortcut to true barbecue and it’s why they never say bbq. The Dallas-based, family-run barbecue franchise offers several slow-smoked meats and wholesome sides with ‘No B.S. (Bad Stuff)’ included. The fast-casual concept has expanded worldwide with two international locations in the UAE and operates over 500 locations in 44 states. In 2016, Dickey’s won first place on Fast Casual’s “Top 100 Movers and Shakers” list and was named a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur in 2018. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit has also been recognized by Fox News, Franchise Times, The Wall Street Journal, QSR Magazine, Forbes Magazine and Nation’s Restaurant News. For more information, visit www.dickeys.com.

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California Pizza Kitchen Names Judd Tirnauer Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

December 15, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) announced today the appointment of Judd Tirnauer as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. With over 25 years of progressive finance and strategic planning experience mainly in the restaurant and retail business, including over 10 years in the CFO role, Tirnauer will lead CPK’s financial restructuring strategy, focus on growth opportunities, and oversee the accounting and finance teams.

“CPK is proud to welcome Judd to the team,” said Jim Hyatt, CEO of CPK. “With his proven track record in finance with both public and private equity brands, we are confident in Judd’s expertise and ability to lead CPK’s financial strategy and build on the Company’s business momentum.”

Judd most recently served as the CFO for Black Angus Steakhouse in Sherman Oaks, CA, and prior with Real Mex Restaurants and Wet Seal. He also spent 15 years at Destination Maternity Corporation, which operated four brands - A Pea in the Pod, Destination Maternity, Motherhood Maternity and Mimi Maternity - and led several projects aimed at reducing operating costs, improving overall margins and EBITDA, reducing debt load and inventory management.

“I’m excited to be joining such an iconic brand and look forward to working with Jim and the executive team on charting CPK’s future growth,” said Tirnauer.

Founded in Beverly Hills, Calif. in 1985, CPK is celebrating 35 years of colliding unexpected flavors and high-quality ingredients to create uniquely craveable dishes, like the Original BBQ Chicken Pizza, a #1 global seller, and CPK’s industry-first, vegetable-powered Cauliflower Pizza Crust. From artisan, California-style pizzas, to creative salads, better-for-you options like Power Bowls and Cedar Plank Salmon, and handcrafted beverages made with fresh, globally inspired ingredients, CPK is known for culinary innovations that lead the trends, served in a relaxed yet vibrant setting anchored by CPK’s hearth pizza oven and open kitchen, where guests can watch their meals prepared from scratch.

CPK’s global footprint includes more than more than 200 restaurants in 8 countries and U.S. territories, which includes 40 international franchise locations as well as 16 domestic franchise locations in airports, casinos and stadiums throughout the United States.

About California Pizza Kitchen

In 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) opened its first restaurant in Beverly Hills and introduced diners to innovative California-style pizza. With a passion for combining fresh, seasonal ingredients with flavor inspirations from around the world, today CPK is a global brand serving creative California cuisine in more than 200 restaurants in 8 countries and U.S. territories. From signature, hand-tossed pizzas and high-quality main plates to inventive better-for-you options, Lunch Duos, premium wines and handcrafted beverages, CPK adds its imaginative twist to create a memorable dining experience. For more information, visit cpk.com. Connect with CPK on Twitter at @calpizzakitchen, Instagram at @cpk, and Facebook at facebook.com/californiapizzakitchen. Download the CPK Rewards™ app for iOS and Android to earn rewards for dining creatively, pay by mobile, order online and more.

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Mitch Langston Named VP Of Franchise Development U.S. Operations for Church's Chicken

December, 14 2020

Church's Chicken, has promoted Mitch Langston to Vice President of Franchise Development for the U.S. The move was driven by Langston's leadership during the rebrand and franchise development efforts for the Church's international sister brands, Texas Chicken™ and Church's Texas Chicken™, which took place across 25 countries.

Langston helped successfully launch one of the most comprehensive redesigns in the brands' histories – including new logo designs and iconography, new international restaurant design, menu, uniforms, packaging, new integrated marketing and public relations campaigns and development of an all-new Texas Chicken mobile app. Church's is now aiming to mirror Langston's tremendous performance with franchisees on a U.S. level, further establishing the Church's brand as franchisor of choice in the chicken category and the QSR market overall.

"As the company is focused on accelerating the growth of our footprint in current and new markets across the U.S., we continue to develop new ways to enhance the visibility, relevance, engagement and passion for the Church's brand among our guests and franchisees," said Langston. "As Vice President of Franchise Development, I have the opportunity to work with an incredible development team, leadership team, and franchisee community to help fully realize our growth potential. I sincerely look forward to our collaboration and shared success in the days ahead."

Prior to his position as Senior Director of International Marketing for Church's, Langston served as Director of Marketing for Popeye's, where he guided international brand positioning and designed growth-focused marketing plans. Langston also previously served as Director of Marketing at Applebee's, defining international marketing, menu architecture, pricing, and leading product development.

In his new position, Langston will report to , Executive Vice President of U.S. Operations. His role will include leading the franchise development team through the selection, negotiation, and onboarding of Church's domestic franchisees.

"Mitch's proven ability to elevate the Church's brand through his insight and expertise is a valuable addition to Church's franchise development leadership," said Servold. "His many years of contributions to our brand continue to add value to our overall brand strategy initiatives, and we only anticipate further positive outcomes as he fulfills his new role."

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