Centerplate Inc. has named Chris Verros president and chief executive, the foodservice contractor said Tuesday.
Verros, the Stamford, Conn.-based company’s chief operating officer since 2010, had been serving as interim president and CEO since September, following the departure of Desmond Hague, who stepped down under pressure after being caught on video in Canada abusing a dog in an elevator.
“We are incredibly pleased to affirm Chris Verros as our choice to lead Centerplate in its next phase of growth. Through his leadership over the past two months as acting president and chief executive officer of Centerplate, as well as his extraordinary track record of integrity and success in all of his prior roles, Chris has demonstrated a remarkable ability to create positive and lasting growth while fostering an environment of trust and respect,” Joe O’Donnell, chairman of Centerplate’s board, said in a statement.
During Verros’ tenure as COO, Centerplate added more than 75 entertainment destinations, stadiums and convention centers to its roster, including opening Nashville, Tenn.’s Music City Center and Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., while driving profitability and expanding overseas, the company said.
Before joining Centerplate, Verros was executive vice president of operations for Boston Culinary Group, prior to its merger with Centerplate in 2010.
Over a 30-year career in event hospitality, Verros has had direct oversight over many convention, sports and entertainment facilities. In 1986, he launched the foodservice company FanFare with Jerry Moses, and grew the company to include 15 accounts before selling it to Fine Host Corp. seven years later, where he served as group president.
Centerplate provides foodservices to more than 350 venues across North America, Europe and the United Kingdom.
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