Executive Movements November 2006
DUNKIN' BRANDS INC., named MARGERY B. MYERS to the newly created position of senior vice president of communications. She will report to JON LUTHER, Dunkin' Brands chairman and chief executive, and will be responsible for “external and internal communication” for the company's Dunkin' Donuts, Baskin-Robbins and Togo's brands. Myers is a 25-year communications veteran who most recently was vice president of corporate communication and public relations for the women's clothing retailer Talbots. Dunkin' Brands is franchisor of more than 12,000 restaurants worldwide. Full Press Release
STAN FRIEDMAN has been named to the newly created posts of senior vice president and chief development officer for MAGGIE MOO'S INTERNATIONAL, a 190-plus-unit ice cream chain. Friedman is an 18-year veteran of the franchising industry and most recently spent three years with WingZone, a Buffalo wings concept, as executive vice president. 
TANGEE GIBSON was named senior vice president of human resources by ARAMARK CORP., for its domestic food, hospitality and facility services division. Gibson was Aramark's senior vice president of organization and leadership development and also served as their vice president of human resources for Aramark's Higher Education business. Prior to joining Aramark, Gibson worked with Coors Brewing Co., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp. Full Press Release Aslo CATHY SCHLOSBERG was named Vice President of Marketing, ARAMARK Education, focusing exclusively on the K-12 market. Full Press Release
BUCKHEAD LIFE RESTAURANT GROUP's human-resources director, NIKO KARATASSOS, was named director of operations for the group's 10 Atlanta restaurants. He will also retain the HR directorship title. Karatassos succeeds EDDIE VALENTE, long-time operations chief. Valente joined the 15-unit, Atlanta-based GRAPE WINE BAR AND SELLER as operations vice president.
KEITH LYON was named president and chief operating officer of the 16-unit SOUP KITCHEN INTERNATIONAL INC. Lyon is expected to build a corporate infrastructure for the Soup Kitchen chain while managing strategic growth. He is a veteran of such companies as Wise Snack Foods and Nestlé. SKI, founded in 1984 by AL YEGANAH, said it expects to launch about 15 more outlets before year-end. Yeganah gained national attention when he was satirized in the “soup episode” on TV's “Seinfeld” Full Press Release
Industry veteran JEFFREY S. CAMPBELL was named vice president and chief people officer by MORTON'S THE STEAKHOUSE. Prior to joining the 71-unit Morton's, Campbell served as vice president of human resources for the casual-dining Logan's Roadhouse chain.Full Press Release
After the company announced a corporate restructuring aimed at positioning them for future growth, DENNY'S added the post of chief operating officer, which will be filled temporarily by SAM WILENSKY, franchise operations director. A search is being conducted for a full-time COO. Additionally, MARK WOLFINGER, chief financial officer, will take on the added role of executive vice president of growth initiatives, and YVONNE WOLF was promoted to the newly created position of chief people officer. Denny's also said that CRAIG HERMAN is retiring as senior vice president of company operations, but might become a franchisee. JANIS EMPLIT, senior vice president, was promoted to fill Herman's post. Under the new reporting structure, Denny's COO, CFO, chief legal officer, chief marketing officer, chief diversity officer and chief people officer will all report directly to NELSON J. MARCHIOLI who is president and chief executive. Full Press Release
SHERI MIKSA was named president and chief executive for ROBEKS CORP., a 95-unit smoothie and juice franchise chain out of Manhattan Beach, California. She is the former CEO and president of Rubio's Restaurants Inc. who resigned those posts last December after three years with Rubio's. Before that, Miksa was an executive at Seattle Coffee Co., LSG Sky Chefs, and Taco Bell Corp. TONY GIOIA, formerly Robeks' interim president and CEO, will remain as vice chairman of the board. Full Press Release
DEBORAH COLLINS has been promoted to executive director of DISTINGUISHED RESTAURANTS OF NORTH AMERICA, or DiRoNA, a non-profit association of fine-dining restaurants. Collins had been deputy director of DiRoNA for the four months preceding her promotion. In her earlier position, she focused on developing and strengthening DiRoNA's restaurant inspections program, and also assisted in the development of the marketing group's new strategic plan.
BRINKER INTERNATIONAL INC. has named GENE MONTEAGUDO chief operating officer of its 38-unit MAGGIANO'S LITTLE ITALY dinnerhouse division, filling a post that has been open for more than a year. Monteagudo had been with Aramark FSS International, serving as director of operations, managing director and interim president for Aramark Mexico. Full Press Release
PETER MCCUE has been hired as senior vice president of human resources to oversee worldwide human resources for PAPA JOHN'S INTERNATIONAL, the operator and franchisor of more than 2,900 restaurants. He will report to Papa John' president and chief executive, NIGEL TRAVIS. He is a native of Scotland, who recently became a U.S. citizen, with nearly 30 years of international human resources experience with companies in various industries including working as senior vice president of human resources for Spectrum Brands, a global manufacturer and marketer of consumer products. Before that, McCue served in several senior-level HR positions with Hewlett-Packard and Motorola. Full Press Release
ALAN F. GALLUP, a principal with NATIONAL FRANCHISE SALES, announced that MICHAEL DEEGAN, former VP of Franchise for Burger King Corp. has joined the firm to focus on Franchise Resales. Full Press Release