APPAREL
Eran Cohen was appointed chief executive of Irvine-based luxury label St. John Knits, succeeding Bruce Fetter, who retired after more than 15 years. Cohen previously served as executive vice president of customer experience at PetSmart Inc. He’s also held the chief marketing title for Diane von Furstenburg, New York & Co. Inc. and Payless ShoeSource Inc. St. John’s parent company, Fosun Fashion Group, also announced the appointment of Laura Vazquez and Tom Jarrold, Vazquez as executive vice president at St. John and Jarrold senior vice president of marketing, branding and communications.
— Subrina Hudson
HEALTHCARE
Annette Walker was named president of City of Hope, Orange County, in charge of developing the cancer center planned for Great Park Neighborhoods in Irvine. Aliso Viejo-based Five Point Holdings LLC and Duarte-based City of Hope said in March that they planned to build the $200 million facility to “anchor a comprehensive new medical campus” in the communities. Walker was most recently president of strategy of Providence St. Joseph Health and chief executive of St. Joseph Health in Irvine.
— Paul Hughes
RESTAURANTS
Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar in Huntington Beach will add one location in Illinois—a new state for the casual dining chain—one in Texas, and two in California. It has 26 company-owned locations in California, Colorado, Nevada and Texas, with 2016 annual systemwide sales of $117 million and average unit volume for established locations of $6.1 million. Locations are about 8,000 square feet, plus a dog-friendly patio, and will employ 200 workers each.
— Paul Hughes
Anaheim White House Restaurant reopened for business after being rebuilt following a fire early last year that severely damaged it. Fire department investigators determined the cause of the fire was an electrical malfunction. Owner Bruno Serato, while his restaurant was being rebuilt, continued to operate his Caterina’s Club charity, which feeds thousands of low-income children per day.
— Hannah Mitchell
STARTUPS
OC life sciences and technology accelerator Octane teamed with San Diego Venture Group and Los Angeles Venture Association to form Innovation Network of Southern California to magnify each group’s impact by leveraging the strengths of each. Thirty-one groups are signed onto the network, including Chapman University and the University of California-Irvine. Octane Chief Executive Bill Carpou said that combining resources could attract more capital, companies and jobs. More than 800 companies have gone through its LaunchPad program. The groups said the organization will meet quarterly to collaborate and share resources. Collaborating will increase the network of investors putting money into Southern California startups, INSoCal said. The leaders of the three county groups will give further details on the network June 1 at Octane’s Technology Innovation Forum at the Newport Beach Marriott Hotel & Spa (see OC Insider, page 3).
— Sarah de Crescenzo and Pete Weitzner
TECHNOLOGY
Irvine startup Cloudvirga announced it closed a $50 million Series C funding round led by private-equity firm Riverwood Capital in Menlo Park. Upfront Ventures in Santa Monica also participated. The company, which makes software that automates the mortgage process, was spun out of Calabasas-based lender Skyline Home Loans in 2016 and led by Chief Executive Michael Schreck.
— Chris Casacchia
TRANSPORTATION
John Wayne Airport and local businesses will expand a pilot program started in February that brings live music to ticketed passengers in secure areas waiting for or arriving on flights there. Starting July 1, a “rotating roster of musicians” will play “live acoustic guitar and piano,” a press release said. OC-based audio-visual products company backing the effort are QSC LLC in Costa Mesa, musical instruments maker Yamaha Corp. in Buena Park, and piano retailer Keyboard Concepts Inc. in Van Nuys, with a Fountain Valley store.
— Paul Hughes
