NEW YORK —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty, who in 1988 joined the business-to-business communications company as publisher of NRN, helped guide the weekly news magazine to become the leading publication in the foodservice industry. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
J. Roger Friedman, president of the New York-based firm, said Doherty’s “contributions to the leading journal in foodservice are many.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“He revitalized our annual MUFSO meeting, developed a strong marketing department and expanded the Nation’s Restaurant News brand into new areas, including seminars, meetings and, most importantly, online,” Friedman said. “Jim put Nation’s Restaurant News on the map. His industry contacts are legendary. His contributions and involvement with the Culinary Institute of America, DiRoNA and the American Academy of Chefs were many. His friends are involved in every segment of the foodservice industry.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty subsequently was named executive vice president and group publisher at Lebhar-Friedman. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Prior to joining NRN, Doherty amassed a wide range of experience in the foodservice and hospitality businesses. He held several executive positions, including president and chief executive of Acapulco Restaurants from 1979 to 1986. Prior to that he was president and chief executive of A&W International and vice president of marketing and development for Red Lobster Inns. He launched his career in 1962 at General Mills Inc., where he was marketing manager and corporate ventures manager, and where he assisted in the 1969 acquisition of the then-seven-unit Red Lobster chain. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty also is the co-owner of The Original Pantry Café, a Los Angeles landmark. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Ted Fowler, president and chief executive of Golden Corral Corp., the family-dining chain based in Raleigh, N.C., said Doherty was particularly suited to lead Nation’s Restaurant News. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“He has a great bandwidth of knowledge,” Fowler said. “He was educated in management and held positions as an operator, a marketer and an owner. He’s well-traveled, keeps up with the trends and knows all the players. He loves this industry. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“When you think of Jim, the word that comes to mind is unique. Over the years we have become very good friends, and it will be hard for me to go meetings and not see Jim there.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty graduated from the University of Denver, which he attended on an American Hotel and Motel Association four-year scholarship. In 2002 a group of the school’s alumni and friends established the James C. Doherty Scholarship Endowment at the university. The endowment is expected to provide at least $5,000 per year to a junior or senior enrolled in the School of Hotel, Restaurant, and Tourism Management in the Daniels College of Business. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
While at school in Denver he met and befriended John Farquharson, the retired president of Aramark Food Service and current president of the International Food Safety Council, a division of the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“Jim Doherty is a great guy and a wonderful asset to our foodservice industry,” Farquharson said. “He’s a hunter, a fisherman, a writer of novels and, most important to me, my friend. We talk several times a week and upon occasion have a drink together. We have a lot in common…and this has culminated in a unique and great friendship.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Ted Balestreri, president and chief executive of The Sardine Factory in Monterey, Calif., called Doherty “a great supporter of the foodservice industry and one of my good friends.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“He has a love for the hospitality industry and a passion for it,” Balestreri said. “Nation’s Restaurant News will miss him. The hospitality industry will miss him. But I know he won’t be a stranger.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
While at NRN and Lebhar-Friedman, Doherty lent his support to many outside organizations and causes. He is past chairman of the board of Children’s Institute International and is a member of the National Restaurant Association’s International Relations Taskforce. He also sits on the board of trustees of The Culinary Institute of America and is on the board of directors of The American Academy of Chefs/American Culinary Federation and Citymeals-on-Wheels USA. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“I met Jim Doherty several decades ago, and I’ve had the great fortune to spend time with him in all kinds of settings,” said Dr. Timothy Ryan, CIA president. “In recent years I have worked with him closely in his capacity as a trustee of The Culinary Institute of America. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“Jim is impressive on many levels. He’s smart, funny and genuine. He’s been a tremendously influential innovator, power broker and sage. He is a legendary industry figure and a star in his own right, but the thing that has always impressed me the most about Jim is that no matter how stressed, busy or tired he might be, he treats everyone with the kind of courtesy, kindness and charm that is becoming increasingly rare these sharp-elbowed days.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Doherty has been inducted into the Les Amis d’Escoffier Society and Confrerie des Chevaliers du Tastevin. DiRoNA named him to its Hall of Fame in 1994. He is a recipient of the International Foodservice Manufacturers Association 1995 Sparkplug Award. In 2003 the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation named him a Diplomate. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
While at NRN, Doherty, who served for a year as editor-in-chief and publisher, also helped shape the publication’s editorial direction. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“When Jim Doherty came to NRN, he already was an experienced businessman, restaurateur and entrepreneur,” said NRN editor Ellen Koteff. “Not content to simply fall back on that experience, he set about to immerse himself in the publishing business, eventually becoming a great publisher and savvy media executive. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“The many years that Jim spent here helped cement his already strong affinity for great journalism. His appreciation and inspiration continues to help our team of editors to never be satisfied with anything but our best effort.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
Tom Larranaga, the publisher of Nation’s Restaurant News, agreed, saying: “I feel very fortunate to have had the chance to work with Jim for the past three years—my only regret is that it wasn’t for longer. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“Jim speaks often of honesty and integrity in business. These aren’t hollow words, but guiding principles for Jim. He is a terrific leader who set high standards and demanded results, but never lost his compassion for people or his sense of humor.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
While Doherty will no longer be involved in the daily operations of Lebhar-Friedman, he will serve as chairman of MUFSO 2009, which is marking its 50th anniversary this year. —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
“Jim is a unique individual who combines an understanding of human nature with the realistic approach to business,” Friedman said. “I will miss the day-to-day contact with him, but am pleased he will be working as a consultant for Lebhar-Friedman.” —After spending more than 20 years at Nation’s Restaurant News’ parent company, Lebhar-Friedman Inc., James C. Doherty is retiring.
