The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf has named John Fuller, formerly CEO of Johnny Rockets, its next president and CEO, the coffeehouse operator said Thursday.
Fuller had been CEO of Johnny Rockets for the past five years, where he led the company’s global growth and helped generate record earnings. He also guided the 338-unit chain through its sale to Sun Capital Partners in 2013.
“Being appointed to lead The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf into a new era of growth and innovation is something I take great pride in,” Fuller said in a statement. “I’ll be working closely with the management team to increase our existing sales and store base, support our franchisees, deliver outstanding product quality and, most importantly, provide our customers with an overall great experience, keeping the company’s rich heritage alive and thriving.”
Fuller has years of experience in the restaurant industry, spending much of that time as chief financial officer of a number of companies. He was CFO of Johnny Rockets before becoming CEO in 2010, and also served as chief financial officer at JC Resorts in La Jolla, Calif., and Rubio’s Restaurants Inc. in Carlsbad, Calif.
Fuller left Johnny Rockets earlier this year. In March, Johnny Rockets named Charles Bruce, formerly CEO of Peter Piper, its chief executive.
The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, based in Los Angeles, has more than 1,000 locations in 30 countries. The company is the largest privately held specialty coffee and tea retailer in the U.S.
Fuller arrives at a time when The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf is making a big push into Asia. The chain recently opened units in Japan, and it plans to open 700 locations in China.
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