Mazzio's names Sheri Miksa president, CEO

Mazzio’s LLC, owner of the Mazzio’s Italian Eatery and Oliveto Italian Bistro brands, has named Sheri Miksa president and chief executive, the company said Tuesday.

Miksa succeeds Gregory R. Lippert at the Tulsa, Okla.-based fast-casual company. She was most recently chief executive at the Atlanta-based fast-casual Boneheads Grilled Fish & Piri Piri Chicken. Previously, she was chief executive at the 150-unit Rubio’s Fresh Mexican Grill and 140-unit Robeks Juice brands.

“We are certain Sheri’s strong industry background and experience, including her substantial time in the fast-casual segment and with franchised organizations, will help us continue to build our brands in the growing casual Italian segments,” Eric Selby, spokesman for Mazzio’s LLC’s ownership group, said in a statement.

Fast-casual Italian is an under-served segment, Miksa added in prepared remarks.

“Mazzio’s has been serving craveable pizzas, pastas and hot Italian sandwiches for over 50 years,” she said. “I look forward to leading the company and working with the great people at Mazzio’s to achieve the brands’ significant growth potential.”

Miksa is a restaurant industry veteran, having worked earlier with Seattle’s Best Coffee when it was owned by AFC Enterprises, Taco Bell and LSG Sky Chefs.

Mazzio’s LLC, founded in 1961, has 140 Mazzio’s restaurants in 10 states. The company also has three units of Oliveto Italian Bistro, a neighborhood-dining concept, in Oklahoma and Texas.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
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