Executive Movements — July 2008
AUSTIN, Texas — NORMAN ABDALLAH said he is stepping down as chief executive of FIRED UP INC., the Austin based parent of the 150-unit CARINO’S ITALIAN GRILL brand, to lead Egyptian-based AMER INTERNATIONAL, a longtime Carino’s licensee. Abdallah, who will remain on Fired Up’s board and executive committee, has been named Amer’s senior vice chairman and president. He will be moving to Egypt. Fired Up said that CREED FORD, who co-founded the company with Abdallah, will reassume the post of CEO in addition to his role as board chairman. CAREY CARRINGTON, Fired Up’s president and chief financial officer, will join Abdallah at Amer International as vice chairman and chief administrative officer. In addition, he was appointed to the board of Fired Up. WARREN CHANG, who has been Fired Up’s chief marketing officer since last September, will succeed Carrington as president of the Carino’s parent. Fired Up also announced that Amer International, based in Heliopolis, Egypt, near Cairo, had acquired an unlimited-use license for the Carino’s brand in Africa, the Persian Gulf and parts of Asia, including India and China. Amer International was founded in 1985 by MANSOUR AMER, who is its chairman. The company develops real estate and is involved in construction, hospitality and agriculture. Among Amer International’s other restaurant operations are branches of the Chili’s Grill & Bar chain.
RIDGELAND, Miss. — The MCALISTER’S DELI fast-casual chain has promoted KEN GREEN to the new post of chief operating officer. Green, who joined McAlister’s last September, retains his duties as senior vice president for operations at the 260-unit chain. Green has worked with Friendly’s, Cosi, T.G.I. Friday’s and Las Vegas’ Stratosphere Hotel and Casino.
LEXINGTON, Ky. — FAZOLI’S, the 286-unit Italian fastcasual chain, has named CARL HOWARD chief executive. The former president and CEO of Damon’s International replaces Bob Weissmueller, who retired recently. Before his tenure with Damon’s, Howard led the bd’s Mongolian Barbeque chain and was president and operating partner of H&H Management, a multiunit Damon’s franchisee. Stating his intention to grow Fazoli’s, Howard said the 19-year-old chain, which had downsized from its peak six years ago of about 400 locations, is “is well-positioned in the quick-service niche, and its commitment to quality is exceptional.” SUN CAPITAL has owned Fazoli’s since 2006.
ATLANTA — The new president of RAVING BRANDS on Thursday confirmed the departures of six executives, including STEPHEN M. LAMASTRA, who resigned as president of the multi-brand franchisor and was replaced by DARYL DOLLINGER, a veteran of the company since its 2003 inception. Dollinger, who was executive vice president, said his appointment was made earlier this month by Raving Brands founder, chairman and CEO MARTIN SPROCK. Also leaving were co-founder SETH SALZMAN; chief financial officer TOM HERMAN; vice president and house counsel ANNE FRIESEN; vice president of corporate operations JOHN AMEND; and CARL GRIFFENKRANZ, the brand leader of the Doc Green’s Gourmet Salads & Grill chain. Most were replaced through internal promotions except Friesen, whose role would be outsourced, Dollinger indicated. He said Salzman, who was running the sevenunit Boneheads Grilled Fish and Piri Piri Chicken chain, was replaced by MICHAEL DEVILLIERS, and that Griffenkranz’ successor is VALERIE ANDERSON. The other successors were not specified. Dollinger said there had been no terminations and that all the departures resulted from “a mutual understanding.” Raving Brands’ franchise system now includes 140 Planet Smoothies, 80 Shane’s Rib Shacks, seven Boneheads, 12 Doc Green’s, six Flying Biscuit Cafes and 23 Monkey Joe entertainment centers. The company last year sold the Moe’s Southwest Grill chain to Schlotzsky’s parent Focus Brands, and this year sold the 17-unit Mama Fu’s chain to a Texas franchisee. Raving Brands this month sold 48-unit PJ’s Coffee to New Orleans Roast LLC
and New Orleans Brew LLC of Louisiana.
CHICAGO — AYLWIN LEWIS, former president, chief branding & operating officer of Yum! Brands Inc., has joined POTBELLY SANDWICH WORKS as president and CEO, officials of the 200-plus-unit quick-service chain said Thursday. Lewis, who joined Yum in 2000 and left in 2004 to head Kmart and Sears, later became president and CEO of parent Sears Holdings before he resigned earlier this year amid a restructuring. He still serves on the board of the Walt Disney Co. Potbelly founder and former CEO BRYANT KEIL said he had been searching for his replacement for some time and chose Lewis because “he was the right person for the job and it was the right time to pass the baton.” Keil will continue as chairman. Chicagobased Potbelly has sandwich shops in 13 states.
INDIANAPOLIS — Activist shareholder SARDAR BIGLARI has assumed the chairmanship of STEAK N SHAKE CO., the 502-unit family restaurant operator that he has long criticized as being mismanaged and undervalued. He replaces interim chairman WAYNE L. KELLEY, who will continue as interim chief executive until a permanent replacement is named. Kelley also remains a member of Steak n Shake’s board of directors. Biglari, who also is chairman of the family-dining company Western Sizzlin Corp., said his first priority at Steak n Shake would be to find Kelley’s replacement as CEO. Biglari also vowed to “close the gap between Steak n Shake’s intrinsic business value and its stock price, which we believe considerably underrates that value.” In addition to running Western Sizzlin, Biglari runs a San Antonio-based hedge fund, The Lion Fund LP. As of June 4, Lion Fund owned 13.1 percent of Steak n Shake’s shares outstanding.
CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. — THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC. has assigned responsibility for day-to-day operations of its namesake chain to DAVID GORDON, a former regional vice president for West Coast operations. Gordon’s promotion to senior vice president of operations for The Cheesecake Factory-brand restaurants is one of several executive changes revealed Wednesday by the company. RUSSELL GREENE, former senior vice president of beverage and bakery, was named senior vice president of operations services. JACK BELK, a regional vice president, was named senior regional vice president. DONALD MOORE, formerly vice president of kitchen operations, was named senior vice president of kitchen operations. In his new capacity, Gordon, a 15-year Cheesecake Factory veteran, will report directly to company chairman and chief executive DAVID OVERTON.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — PERKINS & MARIE CALLENDER’S INC. has promoted several executives, the operator or franchisor of more than 600 family restaurants said Monday. PETE PASCUZZI, most recently senior vice president for corporate restaurant operations, was named executive vice president. He will have oversight of corporate restaurant locations and operations services and administration for both brands. BOB WINTERS, a 20-year Perkins veteran, was elevated to senior vice president of franchise sales, franchise operations and restaurant development. CHERYL AHLBRANDT, most recently vice president of marketing, has been promoted to senior vice president of marketing and research and development. TONI QUIST has added responsibilities for human resources to her duties as vice president of training and operations services. Working under Quist will be SUE KRUSE, who was promoted to Perkins’ senior director of training and development.