Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. has named Carin Stutz as chief operating officer and executive vice president, the company said Friday.
Stutz, who most recently was president of Alpharetta, Ga.-based McAlister’s Deli, assumes a position that the Greenwood Village, Colo.-based casual-dining chain had eliminated in a June 2014 reorganization.
Paul Damico, president of McAlister’s Deli parent Focus Brands North America, said in a statement: “We have an awesome McAlister’s team in place that will ensure our franchisees are supported. In the interim, I will be focused on finding a replacement and actively involved in the day to day operations.”
At Red Robin, Stutz will be responsible for leading restaurant management teams at more than 440 company-owned U.S. and Canadian Red Robin restaurants and 11 Red Robin Burger Works locations as well as franchise operations. She will report to Denny Marie Post, who was named president of Red Robin in February.
“Carin is a proven leader in driving operational excellence, business results and profitability in the highly competitive fast-casual and casual-dining industry,” Post said in a statement.
Besides McAlister’s Deli, Stutz has worked in operations leadership roles at Cosi, Chili’s Grill & Bar, Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar and Wendy’s.
Stutz is also a past board chair of the Women’s Foodservice Forum and a member of its board.
Red Robin has more than 530 restaurants across the United States and Canada.
Update: May 2, 2016 This story has been updated with comments from Focus Brands.
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