Executive Movements June - July 2007
HEATHROW, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 17, 2007--
Ruth's Chris Steak House, Inc. (Nasdaq: RUTH) announces the appointment of
restaurant industry veteran Damon Liever as Senior Vice President of Marketing.
Mr. Liever will lead all marketing functions for the Company's domestic and
international expansion. Specifically, he will be responsible for
conceptualizing and implementing market strategy, achieving marketing and sales
targets, business and market development, market research and planning and
leading strategic direction for promotion and advertising.
Mr. Liever possesses more than twenty years of restaurant and food service industry experience, including work with some of the nation's most recognizable brands. He has held senior management positions at UNO Restaurant Corporation, Black Eyed Pea Restaurants, Yum! Brand's Taco Bell, and Pepsico's Frito-Lay, Inc.
Most recently, Mr. Liever held the position of President of Retail Brand Group, LLC, a subsidiary of Sodexho, Inc. Under Mr. Liever's leadership, the Allentown, PA-based Retail Brand Group created and managed the strategic direction of a portfolio of branded quick-service and fast-casual restaurants with over 450 locations throughout North America.
Craig S. Miller, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ruth's Chris Steak House, stated: "We are very pleased to have Damon join our leadership team. He will play an important role in growing sales, increasing awareness of the Ruth's Chris brand through innovative advertising and marketing, and delivering results in line with our growth strategy. I'm confident that Damon's depth of experience in the food service industry will play an important role at Ruth's Chris, as we continue to lead the fine dining sector."
"I am thrilled to be joining Craig and the entire management team to help deliver on his bold vision for the Company," commented Mr. Liever. "Ruth's Chris is an exceptional brand, which has developed an outstanding reputation for quality and service, and I look forward to the journey ahead."
Mr. Liever received his MBA from the University of Michigan in 1982. He also holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Bucknell University.
About Ruth's Chris Steak House
Ruth's Chris Steak House, Inc. is the largest fine-dining company in the U.S., as measured by the total number of company-owned and franchise-owned restaurants, with 107 locations worldwide. Founded in New Orleans by Ruth Fertel in 1965, Ruth's Chris specializes in USDA Prime grade steaks served in Ruth's Chris signature fashion ... "sizzling."
Dallas, Texas July 18, 2007 —
Philip Costner has been named chief operation officer (COO) of la Madeleine Bakery, Café & Bistro. As COO, Costner will be responsible for the Operations, Culinary and Quality Assurance, Purchasing, Human Resources and Learning functions at la Madeleine. Costner previously held the position of vice president of food and beverage with Carlson Restaurants Worldwide.
Costner brings twenty plus years of management experience in the food and beverage industry, across multiple segments from quick service and full service restaurants, to theme parks, airlines and exclusive hotels. Prior to joining la Madeleine, Costner previously held a variety of leadership positions with Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Universal Studios, LSG Sky Chefs, and Warwick Hotels International.
Costner graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in 1982 with an AOS Degree in Culinary Arts.
Costner is an ICCA (International Corporate Chefs Association) Board Member. In 2007 he served on the NRA (National Restaurant Association) Kitchen Innovations Judges Panel and was a Menu Masters Award Winner in 2005.
Costner resides in Frisco, Texas.
AUSTIN, Texas — FUDDRUCKERS INC., the 250-unit build-your-own-burger and bar chain, has named RALPH FLANNERY chief operating officer. Flannery is a 23-year franchisee of the chain’s operations in Minnesota, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. MATT PANNEK, president and chief executive of Austin-based Fuddruckers, said, “Ralph Flannery’s passion for the Fuddruckers brand, deep operational and guest insights as well as his proven leadership qualities made this a clear win for our organization.” Flannery will oversee Fuddruckers corporate and franchise operations and its supply chain, culinary and facilities teams. Fuddruckers operates in 35 states and abroad.
GREENWOOD VILLAGE, Colo. — RED ROBIN GOURMET BURGERS INC. has hired FLORINE CLARK as vice president and deputy general counsel for the 360 casual-dining chain. Clark has 16 years of experience managing litigation and employment matters. She was senior attorney for Quest Services Corp.
SAN DIEGO — DAVID QUALLS, president and chief financial officer of GARDEN FRESH RESTAURANT CORP., based here, plans to retire at the end of the year after 22 years with the parent of the Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes buffet chains. Vice president of marketing KEN KEANE and senior vice president of operations GREG KELLER will step in as co-presidents. There are 100 Souplantation and Sweet Tomatoes restaurants.
BUFFALO, N.Y. — DELAWARE NORTH COS. plans to hire a new president for its Travel Hospitality Services division to succeed NICK BIELLO, who is shedding the title to focus on his duties as chief operating officer. The contract feeder said the realignment is part of an effort to accelerate growth of the airport feeding operation, formerly known as CA One Services. It currently operates foodservice and retail outlets at 25 airports worldwide. Thirty-year foodservice veteran DENNIS SZEFEL, president of Delaware’s hospitality operations, would assume a more direct role in Travel Hospitality until a president is named.
DALLAS — ROMACORP INC., parent to the 220-unit TONY ROMA’S casual-dining brand, has promoted PHIL HECKATHORNE to vice president of company operations, and RANDY STEINBRENNER to vice president of marketing. Both are new positions. Heckathorne, who joined Tony Roma’s in 1989, was director of operations. Steinbrenner, who had been executive director of marketing, joined Romacorp in 2004 and previously was a senior marketing manager for Applebee’s International.
NEW YORK — As expected, activist investor NELSON PELTZ has resigned as chairman of TRIARC COS. and relinquished his chief executive role to ROLAND SMITH, CEO of Triarc’s lone remaining business, Atlanta-based ARBY’S RESTAURANT GROUP INC. Simultaneously, longtime Peltz lieutenant PETER MAY stepped down as Triarc’s president and COO. Both resignations were outlined in contracts signed in April that provide for Peltz and May to receive separation payments of $50 million and $25 million, respectively. Peltz currently is pressuring Wendy’s International Inc. to facilitate Triarc’s participation as a would-be buyer in the due-diligence process for a potential sale of the No. 3 burger chain. Trian Fund Management LP, controlled by Peltz, May and associates, holds a 9.8-percent stake in Wendy’s. When Peltz and May disclosed their intention in April to resign their Triarc posts, the action was characterized by some as a way for the investors to avoid conflicts of interest in Triarc’s pursuit of Wendy’s. Both Peltz and May remain on Triarc’s board as nonexecutive chairman and vice chairman, respectively.