Long John Silver’s has named casual-dining veteran Peter Czizek to the newly created position of vice president of culinary innovation, the quick-service seafood operator said Monday.
Most recently vice president of culinary menu strategy at Applebee’s, Czizek also held menu research and development roles at Dave and Buster’s and Romano’s Macaroni Grill. He began his career cooking seafood at independent restaurants.
Czizek is one of several new vice president appointments made by Long John Silver’s CEO James O’Reilly, who joined the company from Sonic Corp. in March.
Margo Mize has been named senior vice president of marketing. Most recently she was chief marketing officer of Sweet CeCe’s Frozen Yogurt & Treats.
Marilyn Nicholson is the chain’s new vice president of media and promotion, after spending 15 years leading media strategy at Scoppechio.
Toni Bianco, most recently at Papa John’s, is the new vice president of operations.
“These new leadership team members have deep industry experience and proven track records of accomplishment,” O’Reilly said in a press release. “We’re ready to work together to leverage our strategic plan and customer insights to drive culinary, service, and asset innovation toward our vision of becoming America’s favorite seafood restaurant.”
In the most recent Nation’s Restaurant News Top 100 census, Long John Silver’s ranked No. 77 in U.S. systemwide foodservice sales, with $555.1 million in the fiscal year ended December 2014, a decrease from $663.6 million the previous year, when it ranked No. 60.
The announcement follows the appointment of Brian Unger, former chief operating officer of Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc., as Long John Silver’s COO in April.
In 2011 Long John Silver’s was sold by Yum! Brands Inc. to LJS Partners, a group of investors and franchisees.
Long John Silver’s is based in Louisville, Ky., and has more than 1,100 locations worldwide.
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