Shoney’s North America LLC has named industry veteran Michael Wozniak to the newly created position of chief operating officer, the family-dining chain said Wednesday.
The Nashville, Tenn.-based company also said it has named Eric Cleveland executive chef, succeeding Will Eudy.
Wozniak was most recently president and CEO at the 16 Three consulting firm. His prior positions include CEO of Flat Top Grill, area vice president with Hard Rock International, market partner with Texas Roadhouse, regional director with Romano’s Macaroni Grill and management roles at TGI Fridays.
Prior to joining Shoney’s in June, Cleveland served as director of culinary services at Tampa Maid Foods, and as a corporate chef at Darden Restaurants Inc. brands, including Red Lobster, Olive Garden and Smokey Bones.
David Davoudpour, Shoney’s chairman and CEO, said in a statement that, “with Michael and chef Eric, we're gaining decades of business and culinary expertise that can help bring an even better Shoney's experience to our ever-growing legion of believers.”
Davoudpour’s Royal Hospitality Corp., an affiliate of Atlanta-based Royal Capital Corp., acquired Shoney’s North America in 2007.
The Nation’s Restaurant News Second 100 census ranked Shoney’s at No. 138 among chain U.S. foodservice sales, with an estimated $259 million for its October 2014-ended fiscal year. That was a decrease from an estimated $272 million in the preceding year.
Shoney’s, founded in 1947, has 150 restaurants in 16 states.
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