2008 The Year in Review: Executive musical chairs

JANUARY

HOWARD SCHULTZ replaced JIM DONALD as president and chief executive of Seattle-based Starbucks Corp.

NEAL YANOFSKY resigned as president of Richmond Heights, Mo.-based Panera Bread Co.

MIKE SHUMSKY was named chief executive of Dallas-based La Madeleine Bakery Café & Bistro, replacing GREG BUCHANAN.

HOYT JONES was named president of Jersey Mike’s Franchise Systems, based in Manasquan, N.J., replacing founder PETER CANCRO, who remained chief executive.

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc.’s chairman, JAMES MORGAN, took on the posts of president and chief executive, replacing DARYL BREWSTER.

CHARLIE MORRISON was officially named president and chief executive of The Colony, Texas-based Pizza Inn Inc. ,after serving as interim CEO for five months.

Yum! Brands Inc. veteran DAVID DENO was appointed president of Denver-based Quiznos.

WALLACE DOOLIN relinquished the role of chief executive of Minneapolis-based Buca Inc. to JOHN BETTIN, who was also president and chief operating officer. Doolin remained chairman.

ARICH BERGHAMMER was named president of Los Angeles-based Pink Taco.

FEBRUARY

CARL PENNINGTON SR. was named president of the Seattle-based Tully’s Coffee Corp. chain, replacing former chief executive JOHN BULLER, who resigned, along with chief financial officer KRISTOPHER GALVIN.

WILL KUSSELL was appointed president and chief brand officer of Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ Donuts ,replacing Robert Rodriguez as president of Dunkin’ Donuts U.S.

KEN COLE, former president and chief executive of Sizzler U.S.A., left to become president and chief executive of Quaker Steak & Lube in Sharon, Pa.

MARCH

PAUL SHEPHERD assumed the roles of chairman, chief executive and president of Sagittarius Brands, the Nashville, Tenn.-based parent of the Captain D’s and Del Taco chains. Shepherd replaced SID FELTENSTEIN.

ROGER EATON was appointed chief operating and development officer of Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands Inc., replacing PETER HEARL.

HUBERT JOLY became president and chief executive of Carlson Cos. Inc., parent to the T.G.I. Friday’s and Pick Up Stix brands. He succeeded MARILYN CARLSON, who remained chairman.

Steak n Shake chairman ALAN GILMAN was ousted by a shareholder vote. JEFFREY BLADE, chief financial officer, was named interim president, and board member WAYNE KELLEY was named interim chairman and chief executive of the Indianapolis-based company.

WILSON CRAFT was named president and chief executive of Famous Dave’s of America Inc. ,based in Minnetonka, Minn., succeeding DAVID GORONKIN, who resigned earlier in the year to become president and chief executive of Redstone American Grill in Wayzata, Minn.

JOHN WRIGHT resigned as chairman and chief executive of San Diego-based Pat & Oscar’s to take a more active role in Restaurant Connections International, a Pizza Hut franchise operation in Brazil. GEORGE HUNTER, Pat & Oscar’s chief operating officer and chief financial officer, took the role of interim chief executive.

APRIL

JOHN SHEPPARD was named interim president and chief executive of the Manhattan Beach, Calif.-based Robeks, replacing SHERI MIKSA, who resigned in March.

MARC BERNSTEIN was named chief executive of Tampa, Fla.-based Shells Seafood Restaurants ,replacing Leslie Christon, who left in March. WARREN NELSON, who was interim president after Christon’s departure, officially was named to the role.

CHRIS PRASIFKA was promoted to the newly created post of president of Kahala Franchise Corp., based in Scottsdale, Ariz.

CRAIG MILLER was fired as chairman, chief executive and president of Ruth’s Chris Steak House Inc.

MAY

SCOTT MCLAIN was named corporate president of Oklahoma City-based Sonic Corp. ,filling a post formerly held by chairman and chief executive CLIFFORD HUDSON. McLain retained his previous role as president of Sonic’s franchising subsidiary. MIKE PERRY was promoted from president of Sonic’s restaurant operating subsidiary to the new post of chief operating officer. EDDIE SAROCH replaced Perry as president of the Sonic Restaurants arm.

NED LIDVALL, chief executive of Rock Bottom Restaurants Inc. ,resigned, along with chief financial officer JOHN COLETTA and senior vice president of human resources SUGI RANDALL. Chairman and founder FRANK DAY assumed responsibilities as president of the Louisville, Colo.-based chain.

MICHAEL ARCHER was named president of Applebee’s International Inc .JULIA STEWART, chairman and chief executive of parent DineEquity Inc., had been acting as president since IHOP acquired the chain last year.

RODGER HEAD was named president and chief executive of BD’s Mongolian Grill, based in Ferndale, Mich.

PAUL DAMICO was named president of Moe’s Southwest Grill ,replacing STEVE ROMANIELLO, president and chief executive of Moe’s parent Focus Brands Inc.

JUNE

CLAY DOVER resigned as president and chief executive of Plano, Texas-based Metromedia Restaurant Group.

HAZEM OUF was named president and chief executive of Denver-based Vicorp Restaurants Inc., replacing chief executive KEN KEYMER.

RICHARD STOCKINGER stepped down as president of Patina Restaurant Group .

ROGER EATON succeeded GREGG DEDRICK as president of KFC ’s domestic division within Louisville, Ky.-based Yum! Brands Inc. EMIL BROLICK, formerly U.S. president of brand building, assumed Eaton’s former duties as corporate chief operating officer.

RUSS BENDEL was named president and chief executive of The Habit Burger Grill chain in Santa Barbara, Calif. Bendel in May stepped down as president and chief operating officer of The Cheesecake Factory Inc.’s restaurant division.

KERRY KRAMP was named president and chief executive of Sizzler USA, replacing Ken Cole.

GERALD “JERRY” DEITCHLE, president and chief executive of B.J.’s Restaurants Inc., based in Huntington Beach, Calif., was given the additional duty of chairman, replacing founders PAUL MOTENKO and JERRY HENNESSY, who remain on the board.

ED CASEY was named president and chief operating officer of The Counter burger chain in Culver City, Calif.

TIM TAFT began work as chief executive of Souper Salad Inc. and sister brand Grandy’s.

JULY

JOHN GAINOR was promoted to president and chief executive of Edina, Minn.-based International Dairy Queen ,succeeding CHARLES MOOTY.

NORMAN ABDALLAH stepped down as chief executive of Austin, Texas-based Fired Up Inc., parent to the Carino’s Italian Grill brand, to become senior vice chairman and president of Amer International, a Carino’s licensee in Egypt. CAREY CARRINGTON left his post as Fired Up’s president and chief financial officer to join Amer as vice chairman and chief administrative officer. Fired Up chairman and co-founder CREED FORD assumed the role of chief executive, and former chief marketing officer WARREN CHANG was named president.

KEN GREEN was promoted to the new post of chief operating officer for Ridgeland, Miss.-based McAlister’s Deli .

CARL HOWARD was named chief executive of Lexington, Ky.-based Fazoli’s ,replacing BOB WEISSMUELLER.

JEFFREY BLADE, interim president of Steak n Shake Co., who was also chief financial officer and administrative officer, resigned shortly after shareholder SARDAR BIGLARI was named chairman. Biglari replaced interim Steak n Shake chairman WAYNE KELLEY, who remained interim chief executive.

PAUL MANGIAMELE was named president and chief executive of Charlotte, N.C.-based Salsarita’s Fresh Cantina, succeeding founder BRUCE WILLETTE, who remained chairman.

CLAY DOVER was appointed president and chief marketing officer of Baton Rouge, La.-based Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers .

DESMOND HAGUE was named president of IHOP. JULIA STEWART, chairman and chief executive of parent company DineEquity in Glendale, Calif., had been acting as president since IHOP acquired Applebee’s last year.

AUGUST

PAUL CLAYTON resigned as president and chief executive of the Emeryville, Calif.-based Jamba Juice chain and was replaced by board chairman Steven Berrard.

MICHAEL O’DONNELL was named president and chief executive of Ruth’s Hospitality Group Inc.

WAYNE KELLEY resigned as interim chief executive of Steak n Shake and was replaced by Biglari, who was also chairman.

DAVID WILHELM resigned as president of Culinary Adventures Inc., based in Newport Beach, Calif. Chief financial officer ROBERT ROURKE was named acting president.

RON GRAVES was officially named chief executive of the Pinkberry frozen-yogurt chain after serving as interim CEO for 10 months.

CHRIS PRASIFKA resigned as president of Scottsdale, Ariz.-based Kahala Franchise Corp.

SEPTEMBER

Quiznos president DAVID DENO added the title of chief executive.

ROBERT D’LOREN resigned as chief executive of NexCen Brands, parent of Maggie Moo’s, Marble Slab Creamery and Pretzel Time. He was replaced by chief financial officer KENNETH HALL.

EDNA MORRIS joined CityRange Steakhouse Grill in Greenville, S.C., as a partner.

WARREN NELSON resigned as president and chief financial officer of Shells Seafood Restaurants Inc.

JAMES SCHMIDT resigned as chairman, chief executive and president of Seattle-based Taco Del Mar. KEVIN HANSEN ,Taco Del Mar’s chief operating officer, took over as president.

CHRISTOPHER O’DONNELL was named president and chief executive of Minneapolis-based Famous Dave’s of American Inc., replacing WILSON CRAFT, who resigned after less than five months in the role.

KERRII ANDERSON, president and chief executive of Wendy’s International ,was replaced by ROLAND SMITH, chief executive of Arby’s parent Triarc Cos Inc. J. DAVID KARAM was named Wendy’s president; STEPHEN FARRAR was named chief operating officer; and KEN CALWELL chief marketing officer. At Arby’s, president TOM GARRETT added the title chief executive, and MICHAEL LIPPERT was promoted to chief operating officer.

OCTOBER

SCOTT SLAYMAKER was named chief executive of The Slaymaker Group, based in Salt Lake City, following the death in July of president and chief operating officer DONALD MOREHOUSE. The group is a T.G.I. Friday’s franchisee and is parent to the Winger’s Grill & Bar chicken wing chain. In addition, Winger’s USA Inc. subsidiary president ERIC SLAYMAKER added chief executive to his title.

GEOFFREY D.K. STILES resigned as president of Ruth’s Chris Steak House and was replaced by MICHAEL O’DONNELL, chief executive and president of parent company Ruth’s Hospitality Group.

TONY MICHAELS was ousted as chief executive of Big Boy Restaurants ,based in Warren, Mich. Board member JIM JENSEN replaced him as interim chief executive.

DAVID GORONKIN resigned as president and chief executive of Redstone American Grill. Redstone founder and chairman DEAN VLAHOS assumed the role on an interim basis.

NOVEMBER

SHIRLENE LOPEZ stepped down as president and chief operating officer of the Lake Forest, Calif.-based Del Taco chain. NICK SHEPHERD, chairman and chief executive of Del Taco’s parent Sagittarius Brands, assumed Lopez’ duties.

DAMON LIEVER stepped down as president of the Mitchell’s Seafood division amid staff cuts at parent company Ruth’s Hospitality Group’s home office. KEVIN TOOMY was promoted to senior vice president and chief operating officer of the Ruth’s Chris Steak House brand.

JOSEPH LUONGO JR. was named president and chief executive of Phoenix-based Peter Piper Inc., replacing FRANK SBORDONE, who left the chain in October.

MARK BEGELMAN was appointed chief executive of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based Pizza Fusion ,replacing co-founder VAUGHAN LAZAR, who took the title of president.

RUSS UMPHENOUR was named president and chief executive of Focus Brands Inc. He succeeded STEVE ROMANIELLO, who was named chairman and managing director of Focus Brands’ majority owner Roark Capital Group.

TROY COOPER was named president of Food Friends and Co., parent of the Cozymel’s Mexican Grill chain based in Dallas.

JOHN BETTIN, formerly of Buca Inc., was named president and chief executive of The Palm Restaurant Group ,based in Washington, D.C. He replaced WALLY GANZI, who continued as co-chairman.

WILLIAM FREEMAN was appointed chief executive of Portland, Ore.-based McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants Inc. effective in January. He will take over duties of co-founder DOUGLAS SCHMICK, who will remain chairman of the board.

DECEMBER

SAM TANCREDI was named senior vice president and chief operating officer of Mitchell’s Fish Market .

JEFF O’NEILL was named chief executive and director of Lakewood, Colo.-based Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc., replacing PAUL MURPHY.

Papa John’s International Inc. founder and chairman JOHN SCHNATTER took the role of interim chief executive, following the resignation of NIGEL TRAVIS. A week later Travis was named chief executive of Canton, Mass.-based Dunkin’ Brands Inc. ,effective in January. He will replace JON LUTHER, who will remain executive chairman.

The Dunkin’ Donuts Independent Franchise Owners Group Inc. in Bellingham, Mass., named board member JIM COEN its interim president and chief operating officer after the resignation of MARK DUBINSKY.

NED LIDVALL was named president and chief executive of Wilbraham, Mass.-based Friendly Ice Cream Corp. ,succeeding GEORGE CONDOS.