Viewpoint
Hiring the Best
It is always the mission to hire the absolute best in order to ensure a highly productive and motivated team. The critical challenge: The very best and brightest are always in great demand. As the talent pool continues to tighten, we must improve our recruiting techniques and enhance the speed of our process.
Management
A CEO’s guide to reenergizing the senior team
In today’s tough and fast-changing environment, CEOs must help their top leaders to work through fear and denial and to learn new rules.
When business conditions change as dramatically as they have in the past year, CEOs need to be able to rely on their best leaders to adapt quickly. But what should they do when their strongest executives seem unable to play a new game? The costs—organizational drift, missed opportunities, unaddressed threats—are so big that it’s tempting to replace leaders who are suffering from paralysis. But this is a mistake when, as is often the case, these executives possess valuable assets, such as superior market knowledge, relationships, and organizational savvy, that are difficult to replace.
Leadership
Effective Leaders Don’t Demand Respect, They Command It
Is there such a thing as "too much" respect? I believe we can almost never show too much respect for others.
We all crave respect. It's a basic human need - one that separates us from most of the animals. Many of us take for granted the fact that we will be respected by others, simply by virtue of our position in our family, our company, our accomplishments or even our political or community position. However, this is not always the case. Respect is not always automatically given in these situations and it should never be assumed or taken for granted.
FYI Candidates
FYI Candidates: Women's Foodservice Forum Teaches How to Network Your Way to SuccessNetworking is not about exchanging business cards, it’s about expanding your circle of influence. At the Women’s Foodservice Forum Regional Connect last month at the Arby’s headquarters in Atlanta, I was inspired to think about networking in a freshly challenging way.
Executive Movements
OSI RESTAURANT PARTNERS LLC, parent to Outback Steakhouse and other casual-dining brands, has named ELIZABETH SMITH as chief executive. Smith, who will assume the post Nov. 16, succeeds BILL ALLEN, who is retiring as CEO and will become chairman, OSI said.
DUNKIN’ BRANDS INC., parent of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, said Thursday it has appointed JOHN COSTELLO to the newly created post of chief global customer and marketing officer. He replaces FRANCES ALLEN, who resigned after two years with the company.
BENIHANA INC. on Monday named CHRISTOPHER AMES chief operating officer. Ames, a consultant to the company since July, replaces JUAN GARCIA, who remains president and chief administrative officer, the company said.
KONA GRILL INC., parent of the 23-unit American grill-sushi bar chain, said Monday it had named MARC BUEHLER president and chief executive. Buehler succeeds MARCUS JUNDT, who resigned in May as chairman, president and chief executive after months of shareholder unrest at the company.
Financial Overview
LANDRY’S RESTAURANTS INC., which is in the midst of a going-private deal with chief executive TILMAN FERTITTA, reported Friday that the company swung to a profit in its third quarter on cost controls and comparisons to a year-ago when it booked large impairment charges.
PAPA JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL INC. upped its expectations for annual earnings by two cents per share as the company said it has seen positive transaction momentum, market share gains and improved restaurant profitability.
PANERA BREAD CO. for the third quarter ended Sept. 29 said net income rose 38 percent to $18.9 million, or 61 cents per diluted share, versus $13.7 million, or 45 cents per share in the same 2008 quarter.
DINEEQUITY INC., the parent company to Applebee’s and IHOP, said Tuesday that cost controls, lower interest expense and reduced impairment charges helped it swing to a third-quarter profit from a year-ago loss, despite still negative sales trends.
Big News
McDonald's October Global Comparable Sales Increase 3.3%
OAK BROOK, Ill., Nov. 9 McDonald's Corporation announced today that global comparable sales rose 3.3% in October. Performance by segment was as follows:
- U.S. relatively flat at (0.1%)
- Europe up 6.4%
- Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa up 4.7%
"Our customers are at the heart of everything we do, and McDonald's is delivering what they want," said Chief Executive Officer Jim Skinner. "Our everyday, predictable value, outstanding menu and convenience continue to make us the preferred choice for a growing number of customers." Against a strong prior year performance, U.S. comparable sales were relatively flat in October but continued to outpace the overall quick-service restaurant industry. Customers' ongoing appetite for the Dollar Menu, premium Angus burgers and McCafe espresso-based coffees supported the month's results.
Executive Chat
Interview with Ann Nickolas, VP of the Women's Foodservice Forum, and Melissa Smith, Director of People Services at Church's, on the biggest challenges for women in the restaurant industry.
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Chief Executive Officer- Dallas
- The Chief Executive Officer in partnership with the Board of Directors is responsible for the success of two fast casual brands. The CEO has overall responsibility for implementing the strategic direction and executive management of the brands. The CEO will be the architect of the Brands’ growth. The CEO will provide leadership and direction and coordinate all activities of the company in accordance with the goals and objectives of the organization to safeguard and grow the assets of the organization while providing sound returns to both internal and external stakeholders.
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- Well-established multi-brand QSR company with 500+ locations globally, requires an individual with a strong track record of success in international development focused in China, UK, Germany, and Russia. This individual must be an individual who leads by example, exhibits a "hands on" style of management, and recognizes the sense of urgency in regards to development schedules. This is a known multi-branded franchised company that is looking to take its international presence to a higher level of growth, sophistication, and performance.
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Chief Development Officer - International/Southeast
- Exciting well-established full service restaurant company with 500+ locations nationally requires an individual with a strong multi-unit, multi state operational background in full service, high volume dining, an individual who is driven to excel and can demonstrate a record of significant accomplishments. This individual must be an individual who leads by example, exhibits a "hands on" style of management, and recognizes the sense of urgency in regards to job duties. This is an established, profitable operation that is looking to take its organization to a higher level of growth, sophistication, and performance.
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Area Director - West
- The Director of the Conference Center is responsible for overseeing the central reservations function, all aspects of conference and client center planning and extensive reception services at two corporate conference locations in New York and New Jersey. The Director will ensure that all staff members deliver superior customer service, that meeting room utilization is maximized through the central booking process and that the professionalism and effectiveness of the Conference Planning and Receptionist teams serve to reduce the practical and logistical burden on executives and their support staffs in managing meeting logistics and coordinating visitor needs.
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Director Corporate Conference Center Multi-Site - New York and New Jersey
- $500m national restaurant company seeks Director of Catering to lead and energize its catering department. Seeking rock star who has demonstrated success with developing and driving a catering program for a top restaurant chain.
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Director of Catering - Denver, CO
- Excellent opportunity for a Channel Manager to develop successful QSR restaurants in nontraditional channels including lodging, entertainment, c-stores, travel centers, airports, etc. This leading QSR company is seeking a highly talented and motivated sales executive to expand unit count and sales within existing channels and find new avenues for growth.
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