John H. Longstreet has been named president and chief executive of the Quaker Steak & Lube casual dining chain, replacing Ken Cole, who stepped down to become a franchisee of the 37-unit chain.
Longstreet, who has been on Quaker Steak's board for six years, is president of Plano, Texas-based Hospitality Leaders Group, a consulting firm specializing in organizational development, service delivery, food and beverage operations, corporate culture, leadership effectiveness and team development.
Previously Longstreet was executive vice president of operations Club Corp. in Dallas, which operates golf courses, country clubs, business and sports clubs and resorts. He has also served as vice president of operations for the Intercontinental Hotels Group and is a former mayor of Plano.
“John will be a great fit for The Lube,” said chairman Mike Stack. “His experience and expertise in running high volume operations — combined with his understanding of our concept — will allow him to maximize Quaker Steak & Lube’s growth potential.”
Longstreet is a native of Sharon, Pa., where Quaker Steak & Lube is based.
Cole, the previous chief executive, is exploring franchise opportunities in Nevada and West Virginia. He will serve as a consultant to the company through August.
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected].
