Johnny Rockets Group Inc. in Lake Forest named John Maguire president and chief executive officer.
He replaces Charles Bruce, who joined the burger chain in March 2015.
Johnny Rockets at the time noted Bruce’s experience in turnaround work, marketing, integrating multiple brands within a chain, and and “a proven track record establishing productive relationships with franchise partners.”
Maguire will retain his current role as president and chief executive of FIC Restaurants Inc., formerly Friendly’s Ice Cream LLC in Wilbraham, Mass. Friendly’s sold its retail and manufacturing in June for $155 million in cash to Dean Foods Company in Dallas.
Johnny Rockets in a news release said it will operate independently of Friendly’s while company leaders consider the “synergy” of both restaurant chains’ menu items, which include shakes, burgers and sandwiches and “high-quality” ice cream.
“Johnny Rockets’ mission is in line with what we’re doing at Friendly’s,” Maguire said.
Charles Bruce led Johnny Rockets’ recent restaurant and logo redesign; the company didn’t say what effect the new leadership would have on the roll-out of that effort.
Johnny Rockets over about the last two years has named new senior executives in marketing, finance, and operations and development, in addition to two new chief executives.
The chain is the No. 14 restaurant chain based in Orange County based on Business Journal research. It had $333 million in systemwide sales last year, according to Technommic Inc. in Chicago, and employs 232 locally.
