Cameron Mitchell Restaurants LLC has named longtime executive David Miller as president and to the new position of chief operating officer, the company said Wednesday.
Miller succeeds Cameron Mitchell, founder of the Columbus, Ohio-based multi-brand company, as president, and a spokeswoman said Mitchell will retain his role as CEO and focus on strategic development. Miller has served for 20 years in various roles at CMR, which created and owns the 12-unit upscale Ocean Prime seafood concept.
“It has been an honor to work alongside David as a friend and business partner for so many years, as we collaborated to build this company to the position it holds today,” said Mitchell in a statement.
Mitchell said Miller’s vision for the concepts, associates and operations had contributed to the growth of Cameron Mitchell Restaurants.
Miller has spent 35 years in the hospitality industry, beginning his management career in 1987 with the Stouffer Restaurant Co. He joined CMR in 1996 as a general manager for Cap City Fine Diner. He was promoted in 1997 as CMR’s first director of operations.
Miller serves on the board of the Columbus State Foundation, which has undertaken a capital campaign for the college’s Culinary Hospitality School. He also chaired the Ohio State University Hospitality Management Advisory Board and co-founded the Columbus Food and Wine Affair.
“David’s unique approach to leadership and mentoring across Cameron Mitchell Restaurants has been an integral part of our ability to grow over the past 20 years, as he helped maintain and further define our culture,” Mitchell said. “From guiding the development of our diverse concepts, the national Ocean Prime brand, and our own catering and construction companies, David’s deliberate, thoughtful counsel has been critical to our business success.”
The company said Miller will assume more oversight of CMR’s day-to-day business, and Mitchell will focus on long-term planning and strategic development.
As part of Miller’s transition, three current CMR executives were promoted to additional company responsibilities: Chuck Kline was named senior vice president of operations; Wayne Schick was named senior vice president of restaurant planning and procurement; and Brian Hinshaw was named senior vice president of food and beverage.
Mitchell founded the company in 1993. Cameron Mitchell Restaurants LLC operates 26 restaurants, including Cameron's American Bistro, Cap City Fine Diner & Bar, Hudson 29 Kitchen + Drink, M, Marcella’s, Martini Modern Italian, Mitchell’s Ocean Club (Ocean Prime), Molly Woo's Asian Bistro, The Pearl, The Barn at Rocky Fork Creek, The Guild House and The Avenue Steak Tavern. A division of the company, Cameron Mitchell Premier Events, oversees four venues in Columbus: The Darby House, The Ivory Room at Miranova, Columbus Museum of Art and Hawk Galleries.
A sister CMR company operates the 22-unit Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern.
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