The Cheesecake Factory Inc. has hired Donald Evans as its next chief marketing officer. Evans succeeds Mark Mears, both have marketing experience in the entertainment industry.
Evans has overseen product and brand marketing for several Hollywood movie studios, including most recently an 11-year stint with The Walt Disney Co. as senior vice president of animation marketing for Pixar Animation and Walt Disney Animation Studios. He also founded and served as chief executive of 33 Consulting, whose clients included advertising agencies like Wieden + Kennedy and mOcean.
As CMO of Calabasas Hills, Calif.-based Cheesecake Factory, Evans will oversee the brand’s marketing strategies, including social media and public relations.
“Donald is a seasoned executive who has built his career on marketing high-caliber consumer brands and products,” said chairman and chief executive David Overton. “He is also well-versed in directing digital strategies using social media in order to drive consumer awareness and engagement … We are confident that his leadership will help support the future growth of our concepts.”
Mears served as CMO from 2008 until his departure in March to become chief executive of Mimi’s Café, the casual-dining chain owned by Bob Evans Farms Inc. Mears had been senior vice president of marketing and sales for Universal Studios Hollywood before joining The Cheesecake Factory.
The Cheesecake Factory operates 153 namesake restaurants, 13 Grand Luxe Café locations and one RockSugar Pan Asian Kitchen unit.
Contact Mark Brandau at [email protected].
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