Executive Movements — January 2009
O'Charley's Names Philip J. Hickey Jr. to Board of Directors - Former Chairman and CEO of RARE Hospitality International, Inc. Brings 33 Years of Restaurant Experience to the Board.
O'Charley's Inc. (Nasdaq: CHUX), a leading casual dining company, today announced that it has named Philip J. Hickey Jr. to its Board of Directors, increasing the total number of the Company's directors to twelve. Pursuant to the previously-announced Settlement Agreement with Crescendo Partners, the Board will be reduced to ten members at the Company's 2009 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
Mr. Hickey served as Chief Executive Officer of RARE Hospitality International, Inc., the owner of LongHorn Steakhouse and The Capital Grille, from July 1998 until the sale of that company to Darden Restaurants Inc. in October 2007. He also served as Chairman of the Board of RARE between January 2001 and October 2007. From October 1997 until July 1998, Mr. Hickey, Jr. served as RARE's President and Chief Operating Officer and as a director. Under Mr. Hickey's leadership, RARE grew from 108 to 319 restaurants, and over $1 billion in annual revenue. Previously, Mr. Hickey served as President and Chief Operating Officer of Innovative Restaurant Concepts, Inc. and Rio Bravo International, Inc., operators and franchisors of casual dining restaurants that were acquired by Applebee's International, Inc. in March 1995.
'Phil Hickey is well known throughout the restaurant industry and the investment community as an outstanding leader and visionary with an admirable, long-term record of generating value for shareholders,' said Mr. Dale Polley, Lead Independent Director of O'Charley's Inc. 'He was instrumental in making RARE Hospitality a great success story through its focus on great food and customer service. As we strive to improve the performance of O'Charley's, we anticipate drawing on his 30-plus years of restaurant experience and leadership.'
O'Charley's Inc., headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., is a multi-concept restaurant company that operates or franchises a total of 371 restaurants under three brands: O'Charley's, Ninety Nine Restaurant, and Stoney River Legendary Steaks. The O'Charley's concept includes 244 restaurants in 20 states in the Southeast and Midwest, including 232 company-owned and operated O'Charley's restaurants, and 12 restaurants operated by franchisees and joint venture partners.
Bert Vivian Joins Rick Federico as Co-CEO of P.F. Chang's - P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. (NASDAQ: PFCB) today announced that the Company's President, Robert Vivian, will assume the role of co-CEO along with his longtime friend and business partner, Rick Federico, effective immediately.
'Bert and I have always worked as partners, in every sense of what that word means,' said Mr. Federico. 'Having Bert assume a co-CEO role is merely an institutional recognition of that relationship, while, at the same time, allowing us to allocate CEO-level responsibilities in a way that we think plays to our respective strengths.'
Mr. Federico will be directly responsible for the operations of the Company's two restaurant brands, P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Pei Wei Asian Diner, as well as the Marketing and People Services teams. Mr. Vivian will assume responsibility for the remaining support teams including Finance, Legal, Development, Supply Chain Management and Management Information Systems. In addition, Mr. Vivian will be added to the Company's Board of Directors.
'Rick and I have worked together for the better part of our professional careers,' said Mr. Vivian. 'We are both extremely dedicated to the success of our brands, as well as providing a meaningful return to our stockholders, employees and other stakeholders. I look forward to continuing to work with Rick, the rest of our talented management team and our Board, as we navigate these challenging times and help P.F. Chang's achieve its full potential.' Mr. Vivian has served as President of the Company since December 2000. Prior to December 2000,
Mr. Vivian served as Chief Financial Officer for the Company since joining P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc. in 1996.
LOS ANGELES — California Pizza Kitchen, Inc. (Nasdaq: CPKI) today announced that Sue Collyns has been appointed Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President. Ms. Collyns will maintain her position as the Company's Chief Financial Officer.
Ms. Collyns' 23-year record of success includes seven years in the restaurant industry with California Pizza Kitchen. Her broad experience across several industries has included roles with such leading brands as Sony, Pepsi, GlaxoSmithKline and PriceWaterhouseCoopers. Her previous positions have included Vice President of Finance and Operations, Controller and head of Strategic Planning.
Rick Rosenfield and Larry Flax, co-CEOs of California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., stated, "Sue possesses strong leadership abilities and her insights and direction have been integral to CPK's success. Her appointment to the newly created position of Chief Operating Officer reflects her ability to assume increasing levels of responsibility and complements her role as Chief Financial Officer. Sue is an extremely talented and focused executive who has developed expertise in all facets of our business. We are confident that she is well suited to lead our organization in this capacity.'
In addition, Todd Slayton, who serves as Senior Vice President, Corporate Finance and Controller, has assumed the additional title of Chief Accounting Officer from Ms. Collyns.
DENVER —Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. has hired MARK CRUMPACKER as chief marketing officer. Also, BILL NIMAN, the founder of all-natural meat processor and distributor Niman Ranch, was named Chipotle’s sustainable agriculture advisor. Niman will consult with Chipotle on ways to improve ingredients and broaden its commitment to sustainable
agriculture.
HEATHROW, Fla. — THOMAS E. O’KEEFE has resigned as executive vice president and chief legal and compliance officer for RUTH’S HOSPITALITY GROUP INC., parent to the Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain, as well as Mitchell’s Fish Market, Mitchell’s Steakhouse and Cameron’s Steakhouse. Officials said O’Keefe, who had been with the company since March 2005, was returning full time to his family in New Orleans,where the company had been based before Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The company now has its headquarters in Heathrow, Fla. Michael O’Donnell, Ruth’s Hospitality president and chief executive, said O’Keefe’s responsibilities would be “transitioned to other internal resources.”
OAK BROOK, Ill. – MCDONALD’S CORP., based here, promoted DAN GORSKY to senior vice president of North America supply chain management with responsibility for leading $10 billion in sourcing and purchasing operations for 15,000 restaurants in the United States and Canada. Gorsky’s promotion reflects a title change in keeping with the duties he inherited in June when he was named vice president of North America supply chain, succeeding J.C. Gonzalez-Mendez, who was named president of the 1,600-restaurant Latin America division. Prior to that appointment, Gonzalez-Mendez was senior vice president and chief supply chain officer. In his position, Gorsky, a 15-year McDonald’s veteran, is responsible for the company’s food safety and quality assurance, supply chain sustainability, new product commercialization, risk management and sourcing supply for existing as well as new menu items, said McDonald’s representatives.
DALLAS – PIZZA HUT has named BARON CONCORS chief information officer of its 6,200-unit U.S. division. Concors succeeds Ryan Boone, who left to become CIO of Dollar General Corp. of Goodlettsville, Tenn., an 8,000-plus-unit discount retailer, Pizza Hut said. Most recently, Concors was vice president of global retail technology for the 1,900-unit FedEx Office chain previously known as FedEx Kinko’s. He spent six years at FedEx Office, the office-and-copy-services division of Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx Corp. Prior to that, he worked three years as a manager of technology integration for Deloitte Consulting, with offices in New York, among other U.S. cities.
IRVING, Texas — CEC ENTERTAINMENT INC. last week named MICHAEL BEACHAM senior vice president and chief operating officer of international development. Beacham is charged with expanding the 540-unit chain abroad, as well as directing domestic franchise growth.
SAN DIEGO — JACK IN THE BOX INC. said former Applebee’s chief executive DAVID GOEBEL has joined the quick-service company’s board of directors. Goebel was well known as head of Applebee’s former parent company, Applebee’s International Inc., from 2006 until the chain was purchased by IHOP Corp. in a contentious buyout in late 2007. Goebel had been with Applebee’s under various roles since 2001. Prior to joining Applebee’s, Goebel was president of Summit Management Inc., a consulting group he founded that specialized in executive development and strategic planning, and chief operating officer of Finest Foodservice LLC, an area development franchise for Boston Market that he founded.
NASHVILLE,Tenn. — SAGITTARIUS BRANDS, parent of the DEL TACO and CAPTAIN D’S SEAFOOD KITCHEN chains, said Tuesday it has named JIM LYONS chief development officer. In his new role, Lyons will be responsible for Del Taco’s development, including real estate, construction and franchise recruitment and operations. He also will provide oversight for similar functions at Captain D’s, Sagittarius said. Lyons most recently served as chief operating officer and chief development officer for Popeyes parent AFC Enterprises Inc.
SEATTLE — TACO DEL MAR, based here, said it has named BOB TIPPLE president and chief executive of TACO DEL MAR CANADA, the Mexican quick-service chain’s exclusive Canadian licensee.The Taco Del Mar chain includes 60 locations in Canada, as well as more than 200 in the United States, Puerto Rico and Guam. Tipple previously served as president of Subway Developments 2000 Inc., where he helped develop more than 600 franchised restaurants in the Canadian provinces of British Columbia and Alberta.
COPPELL,Texas — JMC RESTAURANT DISTRIBUTION, a division of CICI’S PIZZA, has hired BOB FULKS as director of purchasing. Fulks succeeds Robert Manning, who left earlier this year after 11 years with the company. Fulks most recently held a similar position at Togo’s Eateries Inc. of San Jose, Calif.The company said that given continuing uncertainty in commodity prices, Fulks would focus on stabilizing unit costs and preparing the department for the future growth of the pizza buffet concept. JMC was founded in 1990 to support CiCi’s restaurants in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. It now serves 650 restaurants in 30 states through three distribution centers in Dallas, Atlanta and Richmond, Ind. CiCi’s is based here.
WASHINGTON — The NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION has named ELIZABETH JOHNSON, most recently the acting undersecretary for food safety at the U.S. Department of Agriculture, to the newly created post of executive vice president for public affairs. In her new capacity, Johnson will head government affairs, public policy and communications at the NRA. John Gay, senior vice president of government affairs and public policy, and Sue Hensley, senior vice president of communications, will report to Johnson. Johnson joined the USDA in 2002, and during her time there also served as deputy chief of staff and senior adviser. Prior to her roles at the USDA, she spent nearly four years as a vice president at public relations firm Fleishman-Hillard, with clients in the food and agriculture industries.
CHICAGO — The INTERNATIONAL FOODSERVICE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION has appointed LAWRENCE OBERKFELL to the newly created post of chief operating officer. He eventually will succeed MICHAEL J LICATA, IFMA’s president and chief executive, who plans to retire sometime in 2009. In the meantime, Oberkfell will oversee the trade group’s day-to-day operations and implement policies and objectives established by Licata and the board. Oberkfell currently is an operating partner of GESD Capital Partners, a San Francisco-based private-equity firm that invests chiefly in consumer, restaurant, entertainment and business services industries. In addition, he serves as executive chairman of Milton’s Holding Co., a fresh bread and cracker company in San Diego. Oberkfell also was an active member of the IFMA board and its executive committee. Licata, who said he would work with Oberkfell throughout 2009, said, “We are confident that Larry will bring the leadership, energy and enthusiasm to move IFMA forward.”
ATLANTA — ARBY’S RESTAURANT GROUP INC. said Thursday it has appointed a former Heineken and Pizza Hut marketing executive,STEPHEN DAVIS, as its new chief marketing officer, effective Jan. 5. Davis replaces Cheryl Barre, who resigned earlier this year. Davis will be responsible for leading all strategic brand marketing efforts for the 3,735-unit Arby’s system, including product development, national and field marketing, advertising, media, consumer insights and research, Arby’s said. Prior to this position, Davis served as senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Heineken North America and held senior leadership positions at the Pizza Hut and Pepsi-Cola brands of PepsiCo Inc.- IRVING,Texas — CEC ENTERTAINMENT INC., parent of the Chuck E. Cheese chain, said president MICHAEL H. MAGUSIAK would also become chief executive on Dec. 29. He succeeds RICHARD FRANK, who will remain executive chairman. Magusiak has been CEC president since June 1994. He joined the company in 1987. CEC owns and operates 494 Chuck E. Cheese units and franchises 46 others.
CANTON, Mass. — DUNKIN’ BRANDS INC. said Wednesday that former Papa John’s chief NIGEL TRAVIS would become chief executive Jan. 6, succeeding JON LUTHER, who will remain executive chairman. Dunkin’ said the move was part of a succession plan that Luther and the company’s board have been developing since early this year. Travis most recently was president and chief executive of Papa John’s International Inc., which he joined in 2005. Before Papa John’s,Travis held various leadership roles at video rental company Blockbuster Inc. His experience also includes time at Burger King, where he served as senior vice president of human resources and, later, managing director for Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Dunkin’ Brands franchises 7,988 Dunkin’ Donuts units and 5,874 Baskin-Robbins locations.
WILBRAHAM, Mass. — FRIENDLY ICE CREAM CORP., the operator of the 505-unit Friendly’s family-dining chain, has named industry veteran NED R. LIDVALL president and chief executive. Lidvall succeeds George Condos, who announced his retirement several months ago. Most recently, Lidvall was president and chief executive of Boulder, Colo.-based Rock Bottom Restaurants Inc. Lidvall also has held senior positions with On the Border Cafes,Chi-Chi’s Inc. and Western Sizzlin Inc. Friendly was purchased last year by SUN CAPITAL PARTNERS INC., a private-equity firm. In addition to operating and franchising the restaurant brand, the 73-year-old Friendly Ice Cream Corp. also manufactures ice cream that is sold in more than 4,000 retail outlets.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — PAPA JOHN’S INTERNATIONAL INC. said Thursday that founder and chairman JOHN H. SCHNATTER would serve as interim chief executive following the resignation of NIGEL TRAVIS at the end of the month. Travis, who has served as president and CEO of the pizza company since 2005, will relinquish those roles on Dec. 30 to pursue another opportunity, Papa John’s said. Papa John’s said its board had formed a committee to find a permanent replacement for Travis. Schnatter has held various leadership roles at the company, which he founded in 1985. He was CEO for 15 years before handing the reins in 2005 to Travis, who had served as president of the Blockbuster video rental company before coming to Papa John’s. Papa John’s has more than 3,000 locations.- WASHINGTON — As part of a wide-ranging restructuring plan, the NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION has cut three top executives from the products and services division of its NRA SOLUTIONS subsidiary. The executives are MARY ADOLF, president and chief operating officer; JAMES BOUDREAU, senior vice president of brand marketing; and JOHN NOCERA, senior vice president. Earlier this year, the NRA had transferred the executives over from its Educational Foundation to its new Solutions arm, which has been charged with developing value-added products, such as insurance and credit card processing programs, to help restaurateurs run their businesses. Adolf served as president and chief operating officer of the NRAEF from 2000 until recently, when she was transferred recently to the NRA Solutions subsidiary. Before joining the NRA, Adolf served as senior vice president and associate director of Ketchum’s Global Food and Nutrition Practice. Boudreau joined the NRAEF in 2002 to head up its marketing division,
LAKEWOOD, Colo. — EINSTEIN NOAH RESTAURANT GROUP INC. has named quick-service veteran JEFF O’NEILL chief executive and director, the company said. O’Neill replaced PAUL MURPHY, who had worked for the company for 16 years. Murphy resigned from his post as chief executive and president of Einstein Noah, which operates or franchises more than 600 restaurants under the Einstein Bros. Bagels, Noah’s New York Bagels and Manhattan Bagel brands.Murphy had led the company since 2003. Nelson Heumann, chairman at Einstein Noah, said that Murphy had “decided to make a change and has worked closely with the board to ensure a smooth transition.” O’Neill’s latest employer, Priszm Income Fund, is a Toronto based Yum! Brands Inc. master franchisee that operates 465 restaurants under the KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut brands. O’Neill served there as chief operating officer and president prior to his latest role as chief executive.- HEATHROW, Fla. — RUTH’S HOSPITALITY GROUP INC. said it has named SAM TANCREDI senior vice president and chief operating officer of MITCHELL’S FISH MARKET, the company’s upscale seafood brand. Tancredi most recently was a franchisee and chief operating officer for six Paradise Bakery & Café restaurants in Indianapolis, a brand that Panera Bread Co. acquired in 2006.A 30-year veteran of the restaurant industry,Tancredi has worked for such chains as Bonefish Grill, The Magic Pan, Chi-Chi’s Mexican Restaurants and Outback Steakhouse. Ruth’s Hospitality, parent of the 119-unit Ruth’s Chris Steak House chain, in February acquired 19 seafood restaurants under the Mitchell’s Fish Market and Columbus Fish Market brands, and three Cameron’s Steakhouse and Mitchell’s Steakhouse restaurants, from Columbus, Ohiobased Cameron Mitchell Restaurants LLC.
BELLINGHAM, Mass. — The DUNKIN’ DONUTS INDEPENDENT FRANCHISE OWNERS GROUP INC., the largest association of U.S.-based Dunkin’ Donuts franchisees, named board member JIM COEN its interim president and chief operating officer after the resignation of MARK DUBINSKY, who had served as president for two years. Coen is executive director of Dunkin’ Donuts’ New England Franchise Association and founder of Franchise Perfection, a website that links potential franchisees to franchisors. He has been the clerk and a director of Dunkin’ Donuts Independent Franchise Owners, or DDIFO, since May 2008, the group said Monday in a statement. DDIFO said it is searching for a permanent successor to Dubinsky.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — GREG DOLLARHYDE will assume the roles of president and CEO of ZOË’S KITCHEN, a 21-unit fast-casual chain where he already serves as executive chairman. In his expanded role, Dollarhyde replaces Zoë’s co-founder John Cassimus, who left the company to pursue other interests. Zoë’s also said it has named TREY HORNSBY chief operating officer. Hornsby most recently was senior director of global restaurant excellence for Yum! Brands Inc. Dollarhyde, who is credited with growing Baja Fresh from about 40 units to more than 200 units before selling the Mexican fast-casual chain to Wendy’s, became involved with Zoë’s in November 2007 after he and Brentwood Associates, a private-equity firm, made an undisclosed investment in the chain. Zoë’s, based here, offers Mediterranean inspired sandwiches, salads, pitas and hot entrées.- SAN DIEGO — JACK IN THE BOX INC. said it has named DENNIS SAMALA senior culinary manager for its 2,100-unit namesake chain. Samala will have responsibility for developing and implementing new menu items as well as managing the day-to-day operation of Jack in the Box’s test kitchen and culinary lab. He most recently was a research chef and culinary service manager for Ventura Foods, based in Brea, Calif.
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — KONA GRILL INC. said Wednesday that its chief operating officer, JASON MERRITT, had resigned to pursue other interests. The 20-unit American grill and sushi bar chain said it had launched a search for a replacement for Merritt, who had been in the position since October 2003. Kona Grill said MARK BARTHOLOMAY, senior vice president of development, would serve as interim chief operating officer. 
CARROLLTON, Texas — CARLSON RESTAURANTS WORLDWIDE has named JOHN NEITZEL president and chief operating officer of T.G.I. FRIDAY’S USA and appointed RICKY RICHARDSON executive vice president and COO of T.G.I. FRIDAY’S INTERNATIONAL. Neitzel, who was president and COO of Friday’s International, is now responsible for the more than 600 domestic Friday’s. Richardson, who was managing director of T.G.I. Friday’s in the United Kingdom, now oversees 310 restaurants abroad.
PORTLAND, Ore. — MCCORMICK & SCHMICK’S SEAFOOD RESTAURANTS INC. has named Fox Sports Grill founder WILLIAM FREEMAN chief executive, effective Jan. 12. He will take over the CEO duties from cofounder DOUGLAS SCHMICK, who will remain board chairman. Freeman, who will also join McCormick & Schmick’s board, is a 19-year foodservice and entertainment veteran who most recently was president and CEO of sixunit Fox Sports Grill, based in Westlake Village, Calif. 
CINCINNATI — The 61-unit LAROSA’S pizzeria chain has promoted MARK LAROSA to president and chief culinary officer after naming his brother MICHAEL LAROSA chief executive earlier this year.The promotions put a second generation of LaRosas in control of the chain, which was founded by Mark and Michael’s father, Buddy LaRosa. Mark LaRosa previously was executive vice president of food and product development. He will continue to be responsible for developing new menu items. The chain’s menu currently include 40 items. LaRosa’s said the chain, whose units are concentrated in Ohio, southeastern Indiana and northern Kentucky, generates annual sales of $130 million.
DALLAS — BENNIGAN’S FRANCHISING CO. LP, which is overseeing the 130-unit Bennigan’s Grill and Tavern system, has hired BENJAMIN NEMO of SCORPIO VENTURES of Atlanta as a brand and marketing consultant. Nemo implemented Popeyes’ recent brand positioning and has held marketing positions at Burger King and Marriott International. Bennigan’s said Nemo would focus initially on the chain’s brand positioning, new menu strategies, and a marketing campaign. - ATLANTA — ARBY’S veteran RUSS UMPHENOUR has succeeded STEVE ROMANIELLO as president and chief executive of FOCUS BRANDS INC., 2,200-unit franchisor of the Moe’s Southwest Grill, Schlotzsky’s, Carvel and Cinnabon chains, the company said Monday. Romaniello moves up to chairman of Focus and joins Roark Capital Group, the private-equity firm that is majority owner of Focus Brands, as managing director and member of its investment committee. Umphenour’s appointment follows his exit from the board of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group Inc., formerly Triarc Cos. Inc. A veteran of Arby’s since 1967, Umphenour founded RTM Restaurant Group in 1973 and grew it into Arby’s largest franchisee until it was acquired by Triarc in 2005 for $706.9 million. At the time, RTM had 775 Arby’s, 25,000 employees and annual sales exceeding $900 million. Roark founder and managing partner NEAL ARONSON said Romaniello’s promotion and the hiring of Umphenour “make this a win-win for all.” Of his successor, Romaniello said Focus Brands was
LENEXA, Kan. — APPLEBEE’S has named REBECA JOHNSON senior vice president of marketing to lead efforts to re-energize the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar brand. Previously, she was chief marketing officer for Blockbuster Inc., and also has worked as chief global brand development and marketing officer for Chili’s parent Brinker International Inc. Johnson’s specific responsibilities at Applebee’s would include overseeing consumer insights, advertising, innovation, and national, field and brand marketing. A division of DineEquity Inc., Applebee’s has nearly 2,000 corporate and franchised restaurants in 49 states and 17 foreign countries. - LENEXA, Kan. — APPLEBEE'S SERVICES INC. has hired ANGELA HORNSBY as vice president of human resources. Hornsby was formerly vice president of operations for the west division of T.G.I. Friday’s. At Applebee’s, she will report directly to president MIKE ARCHER, who was also hired away from Friday’s. Hornsby reported to him at that chain as well. A division of Glendale, Calif.-based DINEEQUITY INC., Applebee's Services and its franchisees operate about 1,997 Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar restaurants.
SEATTLE — STARBUCKS CORP. has named TROY ALSTEAD chief financial officer, replacing PETE BOCIAN, who is leaving the company at the end of the month to become chief administrative officer of Hewlett-Packard, officials said Thursday. Alstead, who currently is Starbucks’ senior vice president for global finance, has been with the coffeehouse chain operator and franchisor for 16 years. He steps in at a time when STARBUCKS COFFEE is implementing a “transformational agenda,” outlined by Starbucks chairman and chief executive Howard Schultz earlier this year, aimed at boosting flagging customer traffic amid widespread consumer cutbacks.