T.G.I. Friday's names new president, COOT.G.I. Friday's names new president, COO

Lisa Jennings

Carlson Restaurants has named Anita Phillips president and chief operating officer of T.G.I. Friday’s USA.

Phillips had been serving as president and chief operating officer on an interim basis for the Carrollton, Texas-based casual-dining chain since November 2010. In her new capacity, she will report to Nick Shepherd, president and chief executive of Minneapolis-based Carlson Restaurants, Friday’s parent company.

Phillips will be responsible for leading and executing strategy across the 300 company-owned Friday’s restaurants. She will serve alongside Lee Sanders, president of Friday’s franchise business.

Systemwide, the Friday’s chain includes more than 900 restaurants in 60 countries.

A 20-plus-year veteran of Carlson, Phillips most recently held the posts of senior vice president and chief financial officer for Carlson Restaurants. Her past experience includes serving as chief financial officer for Carlson Marketing; vice president, finance and strategic sourcing for Carlson; group finance director for Carlson Leisure Group in the United Kingdom; and vice president for Carlson Travel Group.

“Anita has an infectious energy that embodies what T.G.I. Friday’s represents,” Shepherd said. “Her broad business and management experience makes her highly qualified for this position. Anita is a natural leader, which enables her to engage the right people in doing the right things to deliver the right results.”

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].