CEO, KURA SUSHI
WHY: Runs Irvine-based revolving sushi restaurant chain, valued at around $700M as of September. First domestic location at Irvine’s Diamond Jamboree center.
IN THE NEWS: Oversaw June rollout of 60 robot servers, “Kur-B the KuraBot,” to company’s 37 U.S. locations. New automation tackles company’s challenges with staffing stores and rising wages.
QUOTABLE: The robots received positive feedback from Kura’s guests and staff due to the “reduction of non-hospitality focused responsibilities for our front-of-house employees,” he said.
