Executive Movements — August 2008
MINNEAPOLIS-- (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. (NASDAQ:CBOU), the second largest U.S.-based company-owned gourmet coffeehouse operator based on the number of coffeehouses, announced today that Michael Tattersfield has been named President and Chief Executive Officer. Tattersfield succeeds Rosalyn “Roz” Mallet who was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer in November 2007.
Tattersfield’s career spans approximately 20 years of finance, operations and general management experience, both domestically and internationally, in the restaurant and specialty retail industries. His 13-year career with YUM! Brands included extensive branding and franchise leadership experience, including positions of CEO and Managing Director of Puerto Rico for Kentucky Fried Chicken, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, CFO of YUM! Brands’ Mexico business and President of A&W All American Food Restaurants. His retail positions have included Vice President Store Operations at Limited Brands and most recently in his last role, Tattersfield served as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President of lululemon athletica, a yoga-inspired athletic apparel company. For almost two years, he was instrumental in leading lululemon through a period of impressive growth during which the company attained more than 130 percent revenue growth, began building its operational strategy, added a multi-year development pipeline and created a real estate strategy resulting in impressive returns on investment and sales per square foot. In 2007, the company underwent a successful initial public offering. Tattersfield holds a B.S. in accounting from Indiana University and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
“Michael Tattersfield’s industry experience in shaping and executing brand strategies will be an added benefit to Caribou Coffee in addition to his financial and operational expertise,” said Gary Graves, Chairman of the Caribou Coffee Board of Directors. “Caribou Coffee is focused on strategic growth, domestically and internationally, and Mike will guide Caribou Coffee through continued growth and expansion opportunities.”
A former Caribou Board member, President and Chief Operating Officer, Roz Mallet was appointed Interim Chief Executive Officer in November 2007. The Company has performed well during her tenure and she is credited with establishing store standards and improving brand performance. She will help facilitate the transition of leadership. “The Board is deeply appreciative of Roz’s leadership at Caribou, especially in her nine months as interim CEO,” stated Graves. “Roz implemented numerous key strategic initiatives and recent earnings have been well received by investors.”
Industry Veteran Lowell Petrie Joins Daphne's Greek Cafe as Vice President of Marketing. Daphne's Greek Cafe, the largest, fast-casual Greek restaurant chain in the United States, has announced that restaurant industry veteran, Lowell Petrie, has joined the company as the vice president of marketing. Petrie will be responsible for managing the chain's marketing and public relations functions and will report to Steve Fricker, president. "Lowell brings to Daphne's a tremendous wealth of experience and leadership in all aspects of marketing and has earned an outstanding reputation within the industry," shared Fricker upon the announcement. "His hiring completes our efforts to strengthen the company with seasoned executives in all functional areas. We believe we are now well positioned to roll out our growing concept nationally with new company restaurants and into new franchise markets."
Petrie joins Daphne's Greek Cafe with over twenty years of experience in the restaurant industry. Most recently, he served as the vice president of marketing and public relations for Mimi's Cafe, a 135 unit casual dining restaurant chain. Before joining Mimi's, Petrie held the position of vice president of marketing and public relations at Ruby's Diners, a 39 unit chain of 1940's-style diners serving classic and contemporary American fare with locations in six states. While at Ruby's, he supervised all advertising, marketing and public relations functions.
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — STEVEN SCHILLER, who had been chief marketing officer at beleagured STEAK N SHAKE CO., has left the company as the latest executive to exit the 491-unit family-dining chain following the July 11 resignation of interim president Jeffrey A. Blade. The executive shakeup followed the June appointment of large shareholder Sardar Biglari as chairman, a few months after he won a seat on Steak n Shake’s board in a proxy fight. Biglari also is chairman of Western Sizzlin Corp.
ORLANDO, Fla. — Darden Restaurants veteran DOUG DORAN confirmed Monday that he has left GROUP FOUR RESTAURANTS, the development company he joined last December after working for the Red Lobster parent for 11 years. Doran said he left Group Four in March because of the deteriorating economic environment, especially in Florida, where the company is based. He has since signed on as director of operations for EMERIL LAGASSE’s three Florida restaurants. Doran had joined forces last year with Kevin Azzouz, a real estate developer who was Group Four’s primary investor. The pair had intended to develop at least five restaurants in the southwest Orlando market. To date, however, the only finished concept was a makeover of the former Dan Marino’s Tavern on the Lake, which reopened in February as Tavern on the Lake. Doran said he and Azzouz parted ways amicably, and that four other restaurants are “ready to go” once the economic environment changes.
ATLANTA — Arby’s parent TRIARC COS. INC. has picked three WENDY’S insiders to assume key leadership roles at the No. 3 burger chain after the close of the companies’ merger. Wendy’s new leaders will be J. DAVID KARAM, president; STEPHEN FARRAR, chief operating officer; and KEN CALWELL, chief marketing officer. According to a statement from Triarc, Karam will give up his role as president of CEDAR ENTERPRISES, a 135-unit Wendy’s franchisee, and resign from its board of directors. Karam was among the early suitors for Wendy’s when the chain revealed last year that it was seeking to sell itself. He will succeed KERRII ANDERSON, who is Wendy’s current president and CEO. Triarc had already said its CEO, ROLAND SMITH, will hold that position at Wendy’s. Farrar will succeed COO DAVE NEAR, who will go back to leading his Austin, Texas-based Wendy’s franchise. Farrar returned to Wendy’s this spring as chief of North American operations after retiring two years earlier following 26 years with the company in various positions. Calwell will succeed interim CMO PAUL KERSHISNIK, who Triarc said would likely retain a leadership role in the marketing department. Calwell is Wendy’s former vice president of new product marketing, researching and planning.
The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ:CAKE) announced that Michael Dixon, Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer resigned his position, effective July 23, 2008.
The Board of Directors appointed Cheryl Slomann as interim Chief Financial Officer, also effective July 23, 2008. Ms. Slomann has served as the Company's Vice President and Controller since April 2004 and as the Company's Chief Accounting Officer since February 2005. Mr. Dixon will be available to the Company as a financial consultant during an interim period to assist with the transition.
'Mike has been a strong contributor to The Cheesecake Factory during his eight-year tenure with us,' said David Overton, Chairman and CEO. 'He has helped guide the Company during an incredible period of growth and developed a solid accounting and finance infrastructure to support our operations. We thank Mike for his contributions and appreciate his continuing availability in a consulting capacity.
'We have absolute confidence that Cheryl will lead this transition smoothly. As our Chief Accounting Officer for the past three years, Cheryl has the experience and leadership capabilities to assume Mike's responsibilities while we conduct a search for a permanent replacement,' concluded Overton.- WASHINGTON — In separate but nearly identical letters sent to both the WENDY’S and ARBY’S systems, chain officials said the two parties were making “good progress” on the leadership and operational details surrounding the pending buyout of Wendy’s by Arby’s parent TRIARC COS. INC. The letters also were filed with federal regulators here. KERRII ANDERSON, slated to depart as chief executive and president at Wendy’s, and SHARRON BARTON, chief administrative officer at Arby’s and lead integration official for the acquisition, said additional communication in about six weeks would detail the combined chains’ organizational structure and staffing decisions. “We know that everyone is anxious to know this information as quickly as possible,” the letters stated. “We are working diligently with that in mind, while still ensuring we exercise the due diligence and care required to align our resources with the great opportunities we will have in the future.” Triarc agreed in April to take over WENDY’S INTERNATIONAL INC. for about $2.34 billion, or $26.78 per share.
GLENDALE, Calif. — DINEEQUITY INC. has hired retail food veteran DESMOND HAGUE as president of its IHOP chain. He fills a post previously held by JULIA STEWART, who remains chairman and chief executive of Dine-Equity, which also is parent of the Applebee’s brand. Most recently, Hague was president of corporate perishables for Safeway Inc., responsible for its stores’ produce, floral, meat, seafood, foodservice, deli and bakery departments and 1,000 licensed Starbucks kiosks. Before that he was chairman and CEO of convenience-store vendor Hot Stuff Foods, formerly Orion Food Systems, and vice president of food retail for 7-Eleven Inc. Stewart said that with the hiring of Hague and the previous appointment of former T.G.I Friday’s leader Mike Archer as Applebee’s president, “we have positioned both brands for success with leaders of the highest caliber.”- CALABASAS HILLS, Calif. — THE CHEESECAKE FACTORY INC. has named veteran marketer MARK MEARS to the new position of senior vice president and chief marketing officer. Mears will oversee all branding activities, including marketing strategies to increase consumer awareness of the company’s brand. He will report to chairman and chief executive DAVID OVERTON, and fills a vacancy created by the recent departure of long-time marketing chief HOWARD GORDON to launch his own firm. Mears, a veteran of Blimpie International and Pizza Hut, has nearly 25 years of experience in marketing and advertising, most recently as senior VP of marketing and sales for Universal Studios Hollywood. The Cheesecake Factory operates 143 namesake restaurants, 13 Grand Lux Cafes, one RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen, and a large wholesale bakery business.
BATON ROUGE, La. — CLAY DOVER, former president and CEO of Metromedia Restaurant Group, has been named president and chief marketing officer of 70-unit RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN FINGERS here. Dover resigned in May from Metromedia, parent of the Bennigan’s, Steak and Ale, Ponderosa and Bonanza brands. TODD GRAVES, founder and CEO of Raising Cane’s, said Dover “is a natural fit to lead Raising Cane’s mission to be the brand for quality chicken-finger meals.” The chain’s presidency had been vacant for some time. Dover is also a veteran of the Chili’s, Houlihan’s, Marie Callender’s, Left at Albuquerque, Blue Chalk Cafe and other chains. Raising Cane’s was founded in 1996 in Baton Rouge and now has 12 franchised and 58 company-owned restaurants in 13 states. 
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. Appoints Chief Marketing Officer. BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ: BJRI) today announced the appointment of Matt Hood as Chief Marketing Officer, a new position on the Company's senior leadership team. In this capacity, Hood will have full responsibility for the Company's marketing, merchandising, culinary R&D, beverage R&D and concept branding activities. Since 2007, Hood has served as a part-time marketing consultant to the Company. 
AUSTIN, Texas — New officers took over leadership of the TEXAS RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION at the group’s annual meeting during the recent Southwest Foodservice Expo in Houston. GERARD CACE of Johnny Cace’s Seafood & Steak House in Longview, Texas, is the TRA’s new president. Other officers are president–elect MARK MAGUIRE, owner of Maguire’s Restaurant Concepts in Dallas; vice presidents BOB WESTBOOK, owner of CiCi’s Pizza franchisee WR Ventures Inc. of Tyler, Texas, and LISA PERINI, co–owner of Perini Ranch Steakhouse in Buffalo Gap, Texas; and secretary–treasurer RUSSELL YBARRA, owner of Gringo’s Mexican Kitchen in Houston.