CARLSBAD Calif. John Fuller, chief financial officer of Rubio's Restaurants Inc., based here, is stepping down from the fast-casual Mexican chain to head the financial team at JC Resorts, a San Diego-based hospitality company. Fuller's resignation...

TAMPA Fla. Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc. has hired Terri Snyder as executive vice president and chief marketing officer for its 800 Checkers and Rally’s Hamburgers restaurants. Snyder, who has more than 20 years of marketing experience...

GREENWOOD VILLAGE Colo. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. has named Susan Lintonsmith senior vice president and chief marketing officer, responsible for leading all brand and marketing activities for the company's 360-plus-unit casual-dining chain. ...

COLUMBUS Ohio Jane Grote Abell, chief operating officer of Donatos Pizza and a key figure in her family's repurchase of the regional chain from McDonald’s Corp. in 2003, has assumed the additional role of president from her father, Jim Grote. ...

ATLANTA LongHorn Steakhouse parent Rare Hospitality International Inc. has appointed Cathy D. Hampton vice president, general counsel and secretary. Previously Hampton served as vice president and assistant general counsel for EarthLink Inc., the...

JACKSONVILLE Fla. Firehouse Restaurant Group, parent of the Firehouse Subs fast-casual sandwich chain, has promoted Vincent Burchianti to vice president of finance and technology. In addition to overseeing the company's banking, investment...

SPARTANBURG S.C. Denny's Inc., which owns 517 restaurants and franchises 1,028 units, has appointed Mark Chmiel to the new position of senior vice president of Concept Innovation to strengthen the family dining chain's brand. Chmiel assumes...

THE COLONY Texas Pizza Inn Inc. has named Bo Czyz as director of operations, a new position for the 361-unit pizza chain. Czyz most recently was an area director for Applebee's International Inc. and previously had worked at Pizza Hut."Bo...

LOUISVILLE Ky. Papa John's International Inc. has hired longtime Sara Lee veteran Derek Walker as vice president of R&D/Quality Management. He was Pizza Hut’s business and new-product development manager before his 10-year stint with Sarah Lee. ...

LOS ANGELES Pink Taco LLC, based here, named Blake Rudman president of the contemporary Mexican casual-dining brand, which has units in Las Vegas and Scottsdale, Ariz. Rudman is former director of new concept development for Real Mex Restaurants...