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Kona Grill names new COOKona Grill names new COO

Jim Kuhn joins sushi-grill chain from Chalak Mitra Group

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

December 4, 2017

1 Min Read
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kona-grill-coo-kuhn_0.gifKona Grill Inc. has named Jim Kuhn chief operating officer, the company said Monday.

The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based sushi-grill chain said Kuhn most recently served as CEO of Chalak Mitra Group, parent to Genghis Grill.

The Kona Grill COO position had been open for several years.

Prior to Chalak Mitra, Kuhn held leadership roles at Brick House Tavern Tap and Joe’s Crab Shack, then owned by Houston-based Ignite Restaurant Group Inc. In his 25-year career, Kuhn also worked with Ruby Tuesday Inc., Sbarro and Bertucci’s Corp.

“I have never met anyone in the restaurant industry as dedicated and professional as Jim,” said Berke Bakay, president and CEO of Kona Grill, in a statement. “His work ethic is unmatched, and his hands-on approach and proven history of execution and growth is exactly what we need right now.”

Kona Grill owns and operates 46 restaurants in 23 states and Puerto Rico, and franchises two restaurants in Monterrey, Mexico, and Dubai.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected] 

Follow him on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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