Executive Movements — March 2009
GLENDALE, Calif. — VANCOUVER, Wash. – CARRON HARRIS, former vice president of food and beverage at Buca di Beppo of Minneapolis, has been named head of product development for PAPA MURPHY'S INTERNATIONAL here. PMI is parent of the 1,100-plus-unit Papa Murphy's Take 'N Bake Pizza chain.
LOUISVILLE, Ky— YUM! BRANDS INC., parent of the KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and A&W chains, Tuesday named MICKY PANT to the newly created position of president, global branding. Pant will be responsible for leading and establishing a singular global brand positioning and identity for the company’s portfolio worldwide. Pant will also retain his position as chief marketing officer for Yum’s international division.
GLENDALE, Calif. — DINEEQUITY INC., parent to the IHOP and Applebee’s Grill & Bar chains, on Monday named JOHN “JACK” F. TIERNEY chief financial officer. Tierney, previously the CFO of The Dial Corp., replaces Thomas Conforti, who resigned in September. Greggory Kalvin, who was serving as interim CFO, will resume his prior role as vice president and corporate controller.
LAKE FOREST, Calif.— DEL TACO said it had made two changes to its executive team, including the appointment of former Pick Up Stix executive chef ED WILROY as senior director of research and development. The 510-unit quick-service chain also named STACY MARLER senior director of quality assurance and food safety. Marler, a 13-year veteran with Del Taco, was previously Del Taco’s director of quality assurance and food safety.
GLENDALE, Calif. — IHOP president DESMOND HAGUE is stepping down on Feb. 20 after less than a year in the position, parent company DineEquity Inc. said Wednesday. JIM PEROS, IHOP’s senior vice president of operations, will serve as interim president until a successor is found. Hague, a former Safeway Inc. executive, replaced Julia Stewart as president of IHOP in July 2008, after the company bought the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar chain in 2007 and Stewart became chairman and chief executive of DineEquity. Officials said Hague is leaving the company to accept a chief executive role with another chain, but he declined to reveal his new position.
TOLEDO, Ohio — MARCO’S PIZZA, a 170-plus-unit chain based here, has promoted JIM STRACHAN to vice president of operations. Most recently, he was director of franchise operations. In his new position, Strachan oversees franchise operations and communications with 18 area representatives in 15 states. Strachan is also a four-unit Marco’s franchisee.