Executive Movements — February 2010
ALHAMBRA, Calif. — SHAKEY’S USA has created two new management positions as part of an ongoing plan to grow the 56-year-old pizza chain. JAKE LAJOIE has been named chief financial officer, and CRAIG HOPKINS has been named senior vice president of corporate and franchise development, Shakey’s said Monday. Since JACMAR COMPANIES acquired Shakey’s in 2004, chief financial officer duties for the brand had been handled by Jacmar CFO Dave Reid. LaJoie’s appointment to the role means Shakey’s will have a dedicated CFO. LaJoie most recently served as a vice president of ARGONNE CAPITAL GROUP, a privateequity firm based in Atlanta. Hopkins previously served in franchise development for the CALIFORNIA CRISP CAFE chain, and his resume includes work aiding the growth of many other franchised brands, including Arby’s, Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s and Popeyes.Based in Alhambra, Calif., the Shakey’s chain includes 59 fast-casual units with a 60th scheduled to open in Hawaii at the end of February.
FREEPORT, Maine — JACK CRAWFORD, former president and chief executive of the GROUND ROUND INDEPENDENT OWNERS COOPERATIVE LLC, will return to that post on Monday, after a stint at UNO RESTAURANT HOLDINGS, which has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Crawford served as Ground Round’s president and chief executive for nearly four years, from 2003 to 2007, in the midst of that chain’s own bankruptcy and reorganization. Ground Round’s parent company, Boston Ventures, filed for Chapter 7 liquidation in February 2004. Ground Round is now owned and operated by its franchisees that run 30 locations. It had once been a chain of about 130 units. Crawford served as senior vice president of franchise development for Uno Chicago Grill, whose parent, Uno Restaurant Holdings, filed for Ch. 11 on Jan. 20.
CHICAGO — MORTON’S RESTAURANT GROUP INC. has named CHRISTOPHER ARTINIAN president and chief executive, replacing THOMAS J. BALDWIN, who resigned. Artinian has been with the company since 1995, most recently as vice president of Eastern operations. No reason was given for the departure of Baldwin, a 20-year veteran of the steakhouse chain. Like many upscale concepts,Morton’s has struggled with steep sales declines during the past year. In its most recent third quarter,Morton’s reported a 16.8-percent drop in same-store sales, which Baldwin at the time attributed to declines in business travel and convention business. ROGER DRAKE, Morton’s chief communications officer, said the company has not yet identified Artinian’s successor as vice president of Eastern operations and that Morton’s would continue its turnaround efforts. Morton’s has also closed at least seven of its namesake steakhouses over the past two years. The Chicago-based company currently operates 76 steakhouses and one location of TREVI in Las Vegas.
COSTA MESA, Calif. – EL POLLO LOCO INC. has hired back JONATHAN ROGAN to fi ll the new post of executive chef, the company said Tuesday. Rogan, who most recently served as director of research and development for BAJA FRESH MEXICAN GRILL, was manager of culinary development for El Pollo Loco from 2006 to 2007 and before that worked at California Pizza Kitchen, among other companies. Costa Mesa-based El Pollo Loco operates or franchises more than 400 restaurants nationwide.
APPLEBEE’S SERVICES INC. and CARROLS RESTAURANT GROUP both announced marketing staff appointments this week. Applebee’s said it had named DAWN BULLEN vice president of marketing. She most recently served as director of media and integrated marketing for Toys R Us. Bullen will report to REBECA JOHNSON, senior vice president of marketing and culinary for Lenexa, Kan.-based Applebee’s, which operates and franchises 2,002 locations. Carrols said it named TODD COERVER chief marketing officer for TACO CABANA, and JASON ABELKOP was appointed to the same position at POLLO TROPICAL. Coerver previously was vice president of marketing and innovation for Whataburger Restaurants. Abelkop most recently was senior vice president of marketing and national media for Arby’s Restaurant Group. Syracuse, N.Y.-based Carrols, which is also Burger King’s largest franchisee, operates 559 restaurants and franchises 32 to others.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — KONA GRILL INC., parent of the 24-unit grill-sushi chain, said LARRY RYBACK will fill the new post of senior vice president of operations. Ryback, who is currently president and chief operating officer of the fiveunit REDSTONE AMERICAN GRILL INC. of Wayzata, Minn., will begin with Kona on Feb. 8, the company said Tuesday. Prior to Redstone, Ryback was a regional vice president of operations with Champps Entertainment.
MIAMI – BENIHANA INC. announced this week changes to its management team as it begins work with CRG PARTNERS GROUP LLC, a turnaround firm. The casual-dining company, which operates and franchises about 120 restaurants under the Benihana, Haru and RA Sushi Bar brands, named CRG consultant GENE R. BALDWIN as interim chief financial officer, replacing JOSE ORTEGA, who resigned as vice president of finance and CFO. In addition, JUAN C. GARCIA resigned as Benihana’s president and chief administrative officer. Benihana chief executive RICHARD STOCKINGER assumed the president’s title, and the chief administrative officer position was eliminated. Benihana began working in November with Baldwin and CRG Partners. Baldwin said he would act to shore up Benihana’s balance sheet and create a financial strategy for the company. Stockinger, who has been at the company almost a year, has orchestrated branding and menu changes to help reverse falling sales, and the company recently amended its credit terms after weak financial results led to a break in covenants with WACHOVIA. This week Benihana reported that third-quarter samestore sale fell 3.4 percent companywide.
SANTA MONICA, Calif. – NICOLA CHESSA has been named executive chef of VALENTINO RESTAURANT GROUP's flagship restaurant here, after working at the organization's Las Vegas operations since 2003, most recently as executive chef of Giorgio Ristorante at the Shoppes at Mandalay Place.