Executive Movements — March 2008
TAMPA — Leslie Christon has surrendered her duties as president and chief executive officer of Shells Seafood Restaurants Inc. to seek opportunities outside the company, the operator of 23 casual seafood restaurants announced Friday. Warren Nelson, Shells' executive vice president and chief financial officer, was tapped to serve as president on an interim basis, according the terse statement from the company. Christon joined Shells in July 2003 as president and CEO after a brief detour into the retailing industry as president and chief operating officer of Sutton Place Gourmet Inc., a chain of gourmet food stores with an extensive array of ready-to-eat items. Earlier, she had served as president of On The Border, the casual Tex-Mex chain operated by Chili’s parent Brinker International Inc. She has also worked for the Red Lobster and El Chico restaurant chains. For the third quarter ended Sept. 30, Shells reported a loss of $1 million on a 14.7-percent revenue decline, to $9 million. Same-store sales for the quarter fell 12.1 percent.
SEATTLE — In another high-level executive change at STARBUCKS CORP., CLIFF BURROWS was named to succeed Launi Skinner as president of Starbucks Coffee’s U.S. operation, effective March 12. Burrows currently is president of Starbucks’ Europe/Middle East/Africa division. Skinner resigned after only six months in the post to spend more time with her family, Starbucks said. The company also appointed executives to serve as senior vice presidents of four domestic geographic regions. CHRIS CARR was named senior vice president of the Northwest/Mountain division. COS LAPORTA was named senior vice president of Western/Pacific. JIM MCDERMET was named senior vice president of Northeast/Atlantic. PAUL TWOHIG was named senior vice president of Southeast/Plains.
OAK BROOK, Ill. — MCDONALD’S CORP. has added the oversight of McDonald’s Canada to the responsibilities of McDonald’s Latin America president JOSE ARMARIO. With the additional title of group president, the 12-year McDonald’s veteran now has supervision of some 3,000 units in 32 counties. Reporting to Armario is JOHN BETTS, the new president of McDonald’s Canada, which is operator or franchisor of 1,400 restaurants.- SEATTLE — Another key executive from STARBUCKS COFFEE’s fast-growth days is returning to duty. ARTHUR RUBENFELD has rejoined the chain in the newly created post of president of global development, with responsibility for site selection, design and “creative concepting,” according to the brand’s parent, STARBUCKS CORP. Rubenfeld previously was chief development officer and executive vice resident of corporate strategy for Potbelly Sandwich Works, the fast-casual chain whose growth has been financed in part by HOWARD SCHULTZ, Starbucks’ chairman and chief executive. Rubenfeld had been Starbucks’ executive vice president for store development from 1992 through 2001, when the coffee house chain grew to 4,000 units from 100 stores. “Arthur’s past success, extensive experience, knowledge of the business and Starbucks culture will provide the foundation and leadership we need to execute the Transformation Agenda and support our long-term success,” Schultz said. The agenda reference refers to Schultz’s plan for rejuvenating the company during the next year in part by cutting staff, with the intent of eliminating bureaucracy, and refocusing operations on the customer. It was undertaken when Schultz resumed day-to-day management of the company in January, replacing Jim Donald as CEO.
HEATHROW, Fla. — RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE INC. has named DAMON LIEVER, formerly president of Sodexho Inc.’s Retail Brand Group, president of its new seafood division, which consists of 19 MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET and COLUMBUS FISH MARKET restaurants. The seafood concepts were part of Ruth’s Chris’ $92 million purchase of 22 casual-dining outlets from CAMERON MITCHELL RESTAURANTS LLC. The deal closed Tuesday. Also included were three Cameron’s Steakhouse and Mitchell’s Steakhouse outlets. Liever is a former senior vice president of marketing for 119-unit Ruth’s Chris.
ORLANDO, Fla. — KURT HANKINS has rejoined DARDEN RESTAURANTS INC. as senior vice president of culinary for the company’s 295-unit LONGHORN STEAKHOUSE chain. Hankins was senior VP of menu development and innovation for Applebee’s International Inc. until the company was acquired by IHOP Corp. last November. Hankins was one of 11 executives who were let go after the deal closed. He had joined Applebee’s in 2001 after heading menu development for Darden’s Red Lobster chain, where he worked for 11 years. Darden purchased LongHorn’s parent, Rare Hospitality International Inc., last October for about $1.4 billion. Also part of the purchase was The Capital Grille, a 30-unit steakhouse chain. Darden operates about 1,738 restaurants, including the Olive Garden, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52 chains.
CHICAGO — MICHAEL J LICATA, who has served as president and chief executive of the INTERNATIONAL FOODSERVICE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION for the past 31 years, told IFMA’s board of directors Tuesday that he plans to retire sometime in 2009. The association plans to begin conducting a search for his replacement later this year. Licata, who intends to work with his successor throughout 2009, was named to IFMA’s top post in 1977. During his tenure at IFMA he helped to transform it from a nearly bankrupt organization into one of the foodservice industry’s most influential trade groups with more than 400 members and a $10 million budget.- HEATHROW, Fla. — RUTH’S CHRIS STEAK HOUSE INC. has hired Uno Restaurant Holdings veteran ROBERT M. VINCENT as executive vice president and chief financial officer. Vincent, who spent about 16 years with Uno, will again be working under CRAIG S. MILLER, Ruth’s Chris’ chairman, president and chief executive officer, who was president and CEO of Uno for 17 years. Vincent takes up his new post here in mid-March, replacing THOMAS J. PENNISON JR., who announced his departure in December to return to Louisiana, where Ruth’s Chris formerly was based.