Restaurant chain taps veteran exec as new leader
There has been a changing of the guard at California Pizza Kitchen.
The company named Jim Hyatt as CEO, effective immediately. His appointment follows the recent retirement of G.J. Hart as CEO.
Hyatt is a veteran restaurant executive who has led multiple national restaurant brands over the course of his 40-year career. Most recently, he served as CEO of Ruby Tuesday, leading the company through a successful take-private transaction that closed this past December.
Prior to Ruby Tuesday, Hyatt served as CEO of Church’s Chicken, and publicly-traded Così Inc., as well as global COO for Burger King, where he led operations for 13,000 restaurants with $20 billion of system-wide sales in 65 countries. In total, Hyatt spent 32 years in the Burger King system.
California Pizza Kitchen operates nearly 300 restaurants in 13 countries and U.S. territories around the world. It is now introducing its “Next Chapter,” featuring reimagined menus, open kitchens, and renovations in all restaurants across the country. Golden Gate Capital is the majority shareholder of California Pizza Kitchen.
The company named Jim Hyatt as CEO, effective immediately. His appointment follows the recent retirement of G.J. Hart as CEO.
Hyatt is a veteran restaurant executive who has led multiple national restaurant brands over the course of his 40-year career. Most recently, he served as CEO of Ruby Tuesday, leading the company through a successful take-private transaction that closed this past December.
Prior to Ruby Tuesday, Hyatt served as CEO of Church’s Chicken, and publicly-traded Così Inc., as well as global COO for Burger King, where he led operations for 13,000 restaurants with $20 billion of system-wide sales in 65 countries. In total, Hyatt spent 32 years in the Burger King system.
California Pizza Kitchen operates nearly 300 restaurants in 13 countries and U.S. territories around the world. It is now introducing its “Next Chapter,” featuring reimagined menus, open kitchens, and renovations in all restaurants across the country. Golden Gate Capital is the majority shareholder of California Pizza Kitchen.