IT exec changes at EPL, Back Bay, IHOP, Red RobinIT exec changes at EPL, Back Bay, IHOP, Red Robin

Alan Liddle

COSTA MESA Calif. Adding to a recent string of changes in foodservice information technology executive circles, El Pollo Loco Inc., based here, has named Allison A. Watanabe vice president of IT for the operator and franchisor of 391 grilled chicken restaurants in multiple states.

Other foodservice companies that saw IT management shifts during the past nine months include Back Bay Restaurant Group Inc. of Boston, IHOP Corp. of Glendale, Calif., and Red Robin Gourmet Burgers Inc. of Greenwood Village, Colo.

The announcement of Watanabe's appointment to succeed Tom Giannetti, who left EPL last fall, came just days after David L. Starmer, formerly of Biscuitville Restaurants Inc., filled the vacant director of IT post at Back Bay, an operator of about 40 casual-dining venues.

"Allison brings remarkable passion and drive to El Pollo Loco, along with a wealth of expertise in delivering corporate system solutions that reflect her keen leadership, creativity and vision," said Joseph N. Stein, EPL's chief financial officer. "Her ability to identify and implement new technology systems that will fuel El Pollo Loco's national expansion is pivotal to our success in the years ahead."

In her new post, Watanabe oversees El Pollo Loco's existing computer and communications technologies and leads new deployments for the chain, which said it plans to add 50 units this year. She previously was chief information officer, or CIO, for BowTie Inc., a producer of pet and animal magazines, and held management positions with Canon U.S.A. and Rockwell International, among other companies. She has a master of business administration degree from the University of La Verne in La Verne, Calif., and a bachelor of science from the University of Southern California.

Among other duties at Back Bay Restaurant Group, Starmer will manage corporate IT systems and the in-restaurant technologies used in the company's multiple concepts, including Papa Razzi, Joe's American Bar & Grill, and Charley's Eating & Drinking Saloon. Before joining BBRGI in early April, he worked three years in a similar role at 50-unit, Greensboro, N.C.-based Biscuitville, which is currently looking outside the company for his replacement/

Starmer has a master of science degree in management of information technology from the McIntire School at the University of Virginia, and a bachelor's from Wake Forest University.

Also part of the industry's recent IT executive suite changes: a restructuring at IHOP in the wake of its late November acquisition of Applebee's International. In that reshuffling, Patrick J. Piccininno, vice president of information technology, was made responsible for the acquired Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar chain, as well as for the IHOP/International House of Pancakes family-dining chain he previously guided in IT matters.

IHOP's family chain has about 1,350 family restaurants worldwide, while Applebee's, with headquarters in Overland Park, Kan., has approximately 1,900 locations.

Former Applebee's CIO Mike Czinege in February was named senior vice president and CIO for movie theater operator AMC Entertainment Inc. of Kansas City, Mo.

In light of Piccininno's expanded duties, Natascha Kogler was brought in in December to help with IT at IHOP's family-dining division. Formerly of Baja Fresh Mexican Grill and Diedrich's Coffee, among other foodservice companies, Kogler most recently was director of restaurant sales and strategies for vendor Micros Systems Inc. of Columbia, Md.

Prior to joining IHOP in July of 2003, Piccininno was director of IT and chief information officer for Intel Corp.'s communications group, among other technology industry assignments. He has a master of business administration degree from the University of Minnesota and a bachelor of science from Farleigh Dickinson University.

Chris Laping, previously a principal of, and the CIO for, business and technology consultancy Statêra Inc. of Englewood, Colo., joined Red Robin Gourmet Burgers as CIO in June of 2007. Former CIO Rob Jakoby stayed on for a spell as vice president of IT, but has since left the publicly traded company that operates or franchises to others more than 375 Red Robin casual-dining restaurants.

Laping, who also was vice president and CIO for the GMAC financing group among other past jobs, holds a master of business administration degree from the University of Florida and a bachelor of science in management information systems from Florida State University.