Executive Movements — October 2008
DALLAS — CORNER BAKERY CAFE has added three people to its executive team, including Taco Bueno veteran RICHARD PEABODY as chief financial officer. In addition to the company’s finances, he will oversee the 100-unit chain’s information technology initiatives, Corner Bakery said. Peabody previously was executive vice president and CFO of Taco Bueno Restaurants LP. Corner Bakery’s other executive appointments came from within its own ranks with the promotions of PAUL HICKS to vice president of operations services and JOE WEBB to vice president of operations. Hicks was senior director of operations and catering, and Webb was a regional director.
LAKE FOREST, Calif. — SHIRLENE LOPEZ will step down as president and chief operating officer of DEL TACO by Nov. 17, which marks her 30th anniversary with the quick-service chain. NICK SHEPHERD, chairman and chief executive of Del Taco’s parent, SAGITTARIUS BRANDS, will assume Lopez’ duties. Officials indicated there were no immediate plans to replace Lopez, who will continue as a consultant to the nearly 500-unit taco-burrito-burger chain.Neither Lopez nor Sagittarius Brands gave a reason for her departure. Lopez began working for Del Taco by mopping floors at age 14, was a GM by age 18 and made training manager two years later. She rose through the ranks until her 2006 appointment as president following the acquisition of Del Taco by Nashville, Tenn.-based Sagittarius Brands, which also owns the Captain D’s Seafood brand.
BATON ROUGE, La. — RAISING CANE’S CHICKEN FINGERS has appointed H.G. “CAREY” CARRINGTON to the new post of chief financial officer. Carrington will oversee the 70-unit quick-service chain’s finance, accounting, information technology and purchasing departments and assist in legal affairs and risk management. He most recently was president and CFO of Fired Up Inc., the operator and franchisor of Carino’s Italian Grill, and he continues to serve on its board of directors. He also has held CFO positions with California Pizza Kitchen and Spaghetti Warehouse.
LOS ANGELES — The 39-unit RED MANGO frozen-yogurt chain has named MARK ARCHER chief financial officer. He previously was chief financial and administrative officer at Allied Cash Holdings, where he raised more than $72 million in capital to fund store growth. His resume also includes stints with Coffee People Worldwide, Jamba Juice and Del Taco. Red Mango chairman JOHN ANTIOCO said Archer’s hiring nearly completes the chain’s executive team following a $12 million investment earlier this year by private-equity firm CIC Partners and Antioco, a former Taco Bell Corp. chairman. Since then, Jean Birch, former president of Romano’s Macaroni Grill and Corner Baker Cafe, was named Red Mango’s chief operating officer, and Jim Notarnicola, former chief marketing officer at Blockbuster and 7-Eleven, was named marketing chief. Dan Kim, Red Mango’s founder and a minority shareholder, remains president and chief executive. The South Korean chain debuted in Los Angeles last year and has since expanded to eight states nationwide.
SAN DIEGO — JACK IN THE BOX INC. has names GARY SCHNEIDER, a veteran of the Ponderosa and Bonanza steakhouse brands, regional vice president for the quick-service chain’s St. Louis region. He previously was president of Metromedia Steakhouses Co. LP, franchisor of more than 300 Bonanza and Ponderosa units. In addition, Jack in the Box promoted CHARLES WATSON from vice president to senior vice president and chief development officer. The company also elevated MICHAEL BAMRICK, a 30-year Jack in the Box veteran, to vice president of franchising. He was division vice president of franchise operations. Jack in the Box and its franchisees operate 2,100 restaurants in 18 states. It also owns the Qdoba Mexican Grill brand, which has more than 400 units.
DENVER — QUIZNOS SUB has promoted chief administrative officer CLYDE RUCKER to the newly created post of chief operating officer. Rucker, who also was named executive vice president, will be responsible for field operations and operation services for the 5,000-unit sandwich chain. He also retains his role as president of Quiznos’ Latin America operations. Rucker is an “incredible leader who is committed to operations excellence,” said David Deno, Quiznos’ chief executive and president. Deno was promoted to chief executive last month, taking over for Greg Brenneman, who became executive chairman of the Denver-based chain. Rucker left a 12-year career at Burger King to join Quiznos in 2007. He was BK’s central region vice president, managing more than 2,000 restaurants in 14 states, that had approximately $2 billion in annual sales.
DENVER — Five-unit SMASHBURGER, a fast-casual chain launched and backed last year to the tune of $15 million by CONSUMER CAPITAL PARTNERS, has named CCP veteran RYAN MCMONAGLE to the new post of chief financial officer. He was vice president of private equity for Smashburger’s founding firm, which was launched by the Schaden family that grew Quiznos nationally. Led by president Scott Crane and several McDonald’s menu-marketing veterans, Smashburger plans to add 10 to 15 new units by year-end on its way to 500 locations in 30 markets. Before joining CCP, McMonagle worked with Founders Equity, a New York-based private equity firm, and spent three years at Bain and Co. in its private-equity practice.
CANTON, Mass. — Franchisor BASKIN-ROBBINS has expanded the duties of director of marketing and consumer insights CARLOS NUNEZ, naming him to lead U.S. Hispanicmarketing efforts. Before joining B-R in January, Nunez was Burger King’s director of marketing for the Latin America/Caribbean region. He will report to SCOTT COLWELL, brand marketing officer for the Baskin-Robbins Worldwide arm of DUNKIN’ BRANDS INC.
MINNEAPOLIS — The WOMEN’S FOODSERVICE FORUM said Monday that chairwoman LINDA PHARR had assumed day-to-day operation of WFF following the departure of president MARY BENTLEY. The group indicated that a search would be conducted to find a permanent replacement. No reason was given for Bentley’s exit after a two-year stint as president.
SALT LAKE CITY — The SLAYMAKER GROUP, a franchisee of T.G.I. FRIDAY’S and parent of the WINGER’S GRILL & BAR chicken wing concept, has named SCOTT SLAYMAKER chief executive as part of a management realignment. The changes follow the death in late July of president and chief operating officer DONALD MOREHOUSE. He had been the head of operations for the family-owned Slaymaker Group for more than a decade before he drowned while participating in a triathlon in Burley, Idaho. As president and CEO, Slaymaker would oversee all corporate operations and hold particular management responsibilities for the company’s eight Friday’s restaurants. The group’s restaurants operate in Utah, Idaho and Oregon. In addition, Winger’s USA Inc. president ERIC SLAYMAKER will add chief executive to his title and continue to oversee Winger’s Franchising Inc. Currently, nine company-operated Winger’s and 31 franchised locations are in operation. The Slaymaker Group also promoted STEFANO BRONZATI to vice president of operations for Winger’s USA. DAVID NEVES was named vice president of concept development for company-owned Winger’s stores, with the added responsibility of overseeing menu development for the chain.
CARROLLTON, Texas — CARLSON RESTAURANTS WORLDWIDE INC. has appointed CRAIG CUNNINGHAM to the newly created position of vice president of brand marketing for T.G.I. FRIDAY’S USA. He will report to ANDREW JORDAN, Friday’s senior vice president of marketing, and be responsible for all aspects of the chain’s marketing, advertising and promotional development, as well as menu and pricing strategy. Cunningham was vice president of marketing for Accor’s business and leisure division, where he was responsible for regional brand and field marketing for Sofitel Luxury Hotels in North and South America and Novotel Hotels in North America.
MINNEAPOLIS — FAMOUS DAVE’S OF AMERICA INC. has named CHRISTOPHER O’DONNELL president and chief executive following the resignation of WILSON CRAFT, who held the posts for less than five months. Craft resigned to avoid uprooting his family from Atlanta, the franchisor or operator of 172 barbecue restaurants said. Craft had been commuting to headquarters here, the company added. O’Donnell, a 10-year Famous Dave’s veteran, most recently was chief operating officer. Previously, he worked for a publisher of training and management guides for the hospitality industry. Before Craft joined Famous Dave’s in April he was executive vice president of operations for Longhorn Steakhouse.
SEATTLE — JAMES SCHMIDT, founder of TACO DEL MAR, reportedly has resigned as chairman, chief executive and president to launch an Irish pub in Seattle. Taking the reins as president of the 275-unit fast-casual chain is KEVIN HANSEN, who will continue as chief operating officer. Taco Del Mar officials did not return calls about the management changes, but copies of an e-mail to franchisees posted on the Blue MauMau franchisingfocused website indicated that Schmidt announced his departure Aug. 29 at a shareholder meeting and would focus on the pub he and a partner are developing in Seattle. Schmidt, who will remain Taco Del Mar’s largest shareholder, had assumed the presidency last November when David Huether left that post. At the time, Hansen was promoted from VP of franchise development to COO.
MINNEAPOLIS — CARIBOU COFFEE CO. INC. has hired TIMOTHY J. HENNESSY, former chief financial officer of Carlson Wagonlit Travel, as its new CFO. He fills the post vacated by George Mileusnic at the beginning of the year. Hennessy is a veteran of acquisitions and strategic planning for Carlson Wagonlit parent Carlson Cos. Inc., which also owns the T.G.I. Friday’s and Pick Up Stix restaurant brands. Caribou and its franchisees operate about 490 coffeehouses.- CARROLLTON, Texas — CARLSON RESTAURANTS WORLDWIDE INC., parent of the T.G.I. Friday’s and Pick Up Stix chains, has named JOSEPH HSU vice president of international marketing. He replaces Claudia Schaefer, who left earlier this year. Hsu previously was vice president of global products and brands for Regus Group, which provides serviced offices and meeting rooms in 70 nations. He also has held marketing roles in Yum! Brands Inc.’s international division. Carlson’s chains have more then 1,000 outlets in more than 60 nations.
AUSTIN, Texas — GATTI’S PIZZA has named THE AMPERSAND AGENCY of Austin its ad agency of record after a multiagency review. Billings were not disclosed. Ampersand, which replaces Grey Advertising of Atlanta, will be responsible for creative and strategic marketing programs to increase brand awareness and customer traffic. A multimedia brand campaign is expected to break this fall. Gatti’s has more than 140 units in the Southwest, Southeast and Midwest.
GLENDALE, Calif. — THOMAS CONFORTI has resigned as chief financial officer of DINEEQUITY INC., the owner of the IHOP and Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar brands said Monday. Corporate controller GREGGORY KALVIN has been named interim CFO while the company searches for a replacement with the help of search firm Crist Kolder Associates. Conforti, who plans to pursue other opportunities, joined the former IHOP Corp. nearly six years ago and helped navigate the company through its acquisition of the Applebee’s chain and this year’s name change to DineEquity. The company and its franchisees now operate more than 3,300 restaurants.