Executive Movements — September 2009
Omar Janjua has joined Sonic Corp. as president of its restaurant-operating subsidiary, Sonic Restaurants Inc., replacing Eddie Saroch, who has moved to another post within Sonic, the company said Tuesday.
Janjua most recently was executive vice president and chief operating officer for Steak n Shake Co. of Indianapolis. Prior to Steak n Shake, Janjua worked for 18 years with Pizza Hut.
Clifford Hudson, chairman and chief executive of Sonic Corp., said in a statement: “We are fortunate to have Omar join our management team. The knowledge he has gained from a 28-year career in QSR, across many operational and financial areas, makes him an excellent choice to lead our partner drive-in operations.”
Sonic said the outgoing Saroch, who had served as president of SRI since May 2008, would take the new position of senior vice president of franchise operations in developing markets. That position would oversee “an increased effort in the delivery of integrated services to franchisees,” Sonic said in a statement.
Two other Sonic management changes were announced on Tuesday, as well: Claudio San Pedro, previously treasurer and vice president of investor relations, was named vice president of investor relations and brand strategies; and Keith Jossell, previously vice president of franchise finance, was named vice president of market strategies.
Restaurant Industry Veteran Martin O'Dowd Named President of Hurricane Grill & Wings - Martin O'Dowd, a well-known restaurant industry veteran with over 30 years of experience, has been appointed president of Hurricane AMT, LLC, the franchisor of the rapidly growing Hurricane Grill & Wings restaurants. O'Dowd has been CEO of three public restaurant companies over the past 20 years. Most recently he served as president and CEO of Famous Daves of America in Minneapolis, where he successfully developed the organization from 18 units in the Midwest into an 84-unit national concept.
"Martin O'Dowd has been a leader in the restaurant and hospitality industry for many years and we are honored to announce he has joined our team," said Chairman and CEO John Metz. "Martin has an immense expertise and knowledge of the business, and he has a proven track record of building highly successful organizations. He is a key addition to our executive team and will be instrumental in fast tracking Hurricane Grill & Wings' expansion plans."
"I have always enjoyed bringing teams together to build both top and bottom lines, shareholder and franchisee value," said O'Dowd. "Hurricane Grill & Wings has a superior product, a proven track record, systems with proven sustainability and unit economics where ROI are very achievable in today's economic environment."
Hurricane Grill & Wings is known for its uniquely savory chicken wings, offered in five categories with a choice of over 30 signature sauces. Menu items are cooked fresh to order with high quality ingredients, no trans fats, and environmentally friendly packaging. Other menu options range from salads to Certified Angus Burgers, Grilled Mahi-Mahi along with a full lineup of micro-brew beer and wine.
Prior to his position as president and CEO of Famous Dave's of America, O'Dowd was president and chief operating officer of Rainforest Cafe and assisted in the initial public offering of the company from 1995 to 1999. His extensive background also includes executive positions with Elephant & Castle, Inc., Hard Rock Cafe International, Steak & Ale and Holiday Inn Worldwide.
O'Dowd is actively involved in numerous non-profit organizations including Angel Flight of Georgia, a volunteer pilot organization which provides medical-related flights. He is also a member of the Georgia Restaurant Council and The Atlanta Sports Council.
He currently resides in Atlanta with his wife and two children.
INDIANAPOLIS – STEAK N SHAKE CO.'s chief operating officer, OMAR JANJUA, is resigning, effective Sept. 5, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. No reason was given for his departure. Janjua joined Steak n Shake in June 2007 after leading operations services at Pizza Hut. Subsequent to his arrival, activist investor SARDAR BIGLARI took over as chairman and chief executive of the company that operates or franchises 486 family-dining restaurants with annual systemwide sales of about $700 million. Last week, Steak n Shake and another restaurant company led by Biglari, Western Sizzlin Corp., announced plans to merge.
CANTON, Mass. – DUNKIN’ BRANDS, parent of the Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins snack chains, said Monday it has named CHRISTINE DEPUTY and KAREN RASKOPF senior vice president of human resources and senior vice president of corporate communications, respectively. Before joining Canton-based Dunkin' Brands, Deputy served as Starbucks' vice president of partner resources for the Asia Pacific Region and Raskopf was senior vice president of corporate communications for Blockbuster Inc. Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, combined, have more than 14,000 locations worldwide.
SANTA ANA, Calif. – The fast-casual WAHOO’S FISH TACO chain has brought in franchisee TOM ORBE to direct its first big franchising push, officials said Tuesday. The owner of a Wahoo’s unit in Temecula, Calif., for two years, Orbe was appointed vice president of marketing and sales earlier this month, but he is charged with driving nationwide franchise growth for the 55-unit chain now in California, Colorado,Texas and Hawaii. Prior to joining Wahoo’s, Orbe was vice president of sales, product development and marketing for Kawasaki Motors Corp.U.S.A.The 21-year-old, Santa Ana-based chain currently has 18 franchise locations.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – PAPA JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL said Monday it has named ANDREW VARGA senior vice president and chief marketing officer.Varga joins the Louisville-based parent of more than 3,400 pizza restaurants worldwide after 21 years with beverage firm BROWN-FORMAN CORP., most recently as its senior vice president and director of marketing. Papa John’s, the nation’s third-largest pizza chain, had 2008 revenues of $1.13 billion.
COPPELL, Texas – CICI ENTERPRISES LP, parent of the 650-unit CICI’S PIZZA buffet chain, said Monday it had hired MICHAEL R. SHUMSKY as chief executive to replace CRAIG MOORE, who is retiring. Shumsky most recently was chief executive of 62-unit LA MADELEINE RESTAURANT INC. in Dallas. Before that, he was chairman and chief executive of JOHNNY ROCKETS GROUP INC. Moore, who also held the title of president, will retain an ownership position in CiCi’s. He joined the chain as a restaurant manager 17 years ago when it had 47 restaurants.
MAITLAND, Fla. — TIJUANA FLATS BURRITO CO., owner of the 68-unit fast-casual Tex-Mex chain, named BRIAN WHEELER, a co-owner of the company, to the post of chief executive, succeeding J. CAMP FITCH, who will be chairman. Wheeler formerly served as chief operating officer. An additional co-owner, CHESTER WHEELER, remains as chief financial officer. All three serve on the board of directors and will be joined by RICK VAN WARNER, president of THE PARQUET GROUP LLC restaurant consulting firm of Orlando, Fla. The company also said this week that NICOLE DIPIETRO was named vice president for finance and JEFFREY RETTIG SR. was named vice president of human resources. TONY SPERRAZZA, a 20-year restaurant industry veteran, was named director of operations.
CHARLOTTE,N.C. – BOJANGLES’ RESTAURANTS INC., parent of the 449-unit Bojangles’ Famous Chicken ‘n Biscuits quick-service chain, has named TONY HOPSON vice president of franchise operations. Hopson joined Charlotte-based Bojangles’ in 2007 as a regional vice president of operations.
RIDGELAND, Miss. — MCALISTER’S CORP., parent to the 285-unit McAlister’s Deli chain, said Monday it has made several executive changes. NATALIE BLACHER has been promoted to the new position of senior vice president of marketing. She had been vice president of marketing. ANNICA KREIDER has replaced Blacher as vice president of marketing. She previously was director of marketing services. JOHN DRUMMOND has been promoted to vice president of human resources. He previously was senior director of human resources. CHARLES CORLEY has been named vice president of operations. He previously was manager of franchise operations. VICKIE FRISBIE has been named vice president of training. She most recently was senior director of training at Corner Bakery Cafe.
WAYZATA, Minn. — REDSTONE AMERICAN GRILL said last week it has added the responsibilities of president to the chain’s chief operating officer, and also named a new board member, helping to ready the five-unit upscale casual dining chain for growth. The company promoted LARRY RYBACK to president, adding to his responsibilities as chief operating officer. The company also said that chairman and chief executive of Lakes Entertainment Inc., and former chief executive of Rainforest Café, LYLE BERMAN, has joined Redstone’s board of directors.
ATLANTA – STEVI B’S PIZZA, a 34-unit family-buffet pizza chain, said Friday it hired BRENT HOBBS as its new director of field operations. He will be responsible for overseeing franchise and corporate operations, training, research and development, and food safety practices, the company said. Hobbs previously worked for CiCi’s Pizza and Domino’s Pizza. Stevi B’s is owned by Argonne Capital of Atlanta.
LAS VEGAS — Former McAlister’s Deli executive PATRICK WALLS has been named chief operating officer and general counsel of the 55-unit CAPRIOTTI’S sandwich chain, officials said Tuesday. Walls will oversee Capriotti’s restaurant operations, development and expansion in the newly created position. He previously worked for 12 years with McAlister’s, helping to grow that chain from 13 units to more than 280. Walls is also a former counsel for Francorp Inc.,and he serves on the International Franchise Association’s ICFE Board of Governors.
DALLAS – CLARENCE OTIS of DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC., DOUG BROOKS of BRINKER INTERNATIONAL INC. and DAVID BRANDON of DOMINO'S PIZZA INC., with NATION’S RESTAURANT NEWS editor ELLEN KOTEFF, will discuss how to compete and win in today’s challenging business environment at the 50th annual Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators conference, here, Oct. 4-6. More information about MUFSO, which is being held at the Hilton Anatole Hotel, is available at http://www.mufso.com. Darden, Brinker and Domino’s generate a combined $11.4 billion in annual corporate foodservice revenue.- CHARLOTTE, N.C. — BOJANGLES’ RESTAURANTS INC., based here, has named KENNY AVERY vice president of company operations, overseeing the franchisor’s 159 restaurants. Avery, an industry veteran, joined Bojangles’ in November 2007 as vice president of operations support. BRI also franchises 228 Bojangles’ quick-service restaurants.
WASHINGTON – The NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION said it has hired STEVE CALDEIRA to serve as a marketing communications and alliance development consultant for the NRA and the NRA Educational Foundation. Caldeira most recently was the executive vice president of global communications and chief public affairs officer for DUNKIN' BRANDS INC. The NRA said he will work with the INTERNATIONAL FOODSERVICE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION and the INTERNATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS ASSOCIATION to discover areas and issues of common interest and help the NRA and NRAEF expand and enhance traditional sponsorship efforts.
MIAMI – BURGER KING CORP. on Wednesday named KEVIN HIGGINS president of its Europe, Middle East and Africa region, based in Zug, Switzerland. Higgins will assume the post in August, replacing PETER ROBINSON, who will complete his three-year commitment to the Miami company in October, Burger King said. Higgins most recently was general manager of YUM! BRANDS INC.’s Europe and Russian franchise business unit. Before joining Yum he worked for Pepsico Restaurants in London and for M&M/Mars Inc. in the United Kingdom and the United States. Burger King has more than 11,800 restaurants in the United States and 74 nations.
ATLANTA — Multiconcept operator FOCUS BRANDS INC. said Tuesday that GARY BALES, president of the company’s CARVEL chain, will take on the additional role of president of CINNABON. Bales replaces GEOFF HILL, who will become vice president of Roark Capital Group, Focus Brands’ private-equity parent company, effective Jan. 1. Focus Brands operates or franchises more than 2,200 units under the Carvel, Cinnabon, Schlotzky’s and Moe’s Southwest Grill brand.
SAN JOSE, Calif. – TODD PETERSON has been named to the newly created position of vice president of franchise sales for TOGO’S EATERIES INC., officials said Monday. The San Jose, Calif.-based sandwich chain has 242 franchised locations throughout the West Coast. Peterson previously managed franchise sales for CiCi’s Pizza of Coppell, Texas, and, prior to that, was vice president of franchise development for the Sizzler USA chain. Togo’s is controlled by private-equity firm MAINSAIL PARTNERS of San Francisco.
THE COLONY, Texas – PIZZA INN INC., which operates or franchises to others 320 namesake buffet restaurants, said Monday it has named ANTHONY KWOK managing director of development for the Asia-Pacific region. Kwok most recently served as regional director of development and franchising for Domino's Pizza in Ann Arbor, Mich., and also has worked for Papa Murphy's, Wendy's, Hardee's and Burger King. Pizza Inn has 68 locations in nine nations outside the United States, including two units in China, and plans openings in Oman and Bangladesh.