Chanticleer Holdings Inc., a Hooters part owner, has named Mark Roberson to the newly created position of chief operating officer, the company said Wednesday.
Roberson was most recently CEO of PokerTek Inc., a publicly traded gaming technology company.
“I've known and respected Mark for years, and feel fortunate that the timing was right for both of us, and that he chose to join Chanticleer at this exciting time in our company's growth,” Mike Pruitt, Chanticleer CEO, said in a statement. "Mark's expertise in financial reporting and enterprise-wide operating experience will be an asset to the team."
Prior to PokerTek, Roberson served in financial and operational management roles with Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp., LifeStyle Furnishings International and Curtiss-Wright Inc., an aerospace and defense contractor.
Roberson said he was eager to join Chanticleer, which has been expanding its fast-casual portfolio.
“The company has grown from 26 to 46 stores in recent months, and is fast becoming a significant player in the fast-casual segment,” he said, adding that the company has “a solid group of restaurants in the portfolio and attractive growth targets in the pipeline.”
Charlotte, N.C.-based Chanticleer franchises Hooters restaurants in Australia, South Africa and Europe, and has two Hooters locations in the United States. Chanticleer also maintains an ownership stake in Hooters’ Atlanta-based parent company Hooters of America LLC.
In March, Chanticleer closed on its purchase of Lansdowne, Va.-based BGR: The Burger Joint fast-casual concept, and owns and operates American Burger Co. The company also owns a majority interest in Just Fresh restaurants in the United States.
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