Jim Mizes retires from fast-casual pizza brand
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Ron Ruggless
Blaze Pizza LLC has named Amanda “Mandy” Shaw as interim CEO with the retirement of Jim Mizes from the CEO and president posts, the company said Tuesday.
The Los Angeles-based Blaze Pizza said Mizes, who had served as CEO since May 2017 and been with the company since 2013, had stepped down Aug. 23. The Blaze board has started a search for a permanent replacement.
Shaw joined Blaze as the chief financial officer in January 2018 and has worked with Mizes to ensure a smooth transition for the business, the company said.
Prior to her role with Blaze, Shaw served in several roles at Bloomin’ Brands Inc. (the parent company of Outback Steakhouse, Bonefish Grill, Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Carrabba’s Italian Grill), including as chief information officer, as CFO for the international divisions and as chief accounting officer.
Private equity firm Brentwood Associates made “a significant, non-controlling investment” in the Blaze in 2017.
Blaze Pizza has 341 restaurants in 42 states and five countries.
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