GLENDALE Calif. Food retail veteran Desmond Hague has been named president of IHOP Restaurants, effective immediately, officials at parent company DineEquity Inc. said on Monday.
Hague steps into the role previously held by Julia Stewart, who is now chairman and chief executive of DineEquity, which is also parent to the Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar brand. Most recently, Hague was president of corporate perishables for the grocery chain Safeway Inc., where he was responsible for the produce, floral, meat, seafood, foodservice, deli and bakery departments, as well as the 1,000 licensed Starbucks locations in stores.
Before Safeway, Hague was chairman and chief executive of Hot Stuff Foods, formerly Orion Food Systems, which provided food services to convenience stores, and, before that, he was vice president of food retail for 7-Eleven Inc.
Stewart said Hague would build on IHOP’s success and take the 1,361-unit brand’s growth strategies “to the next level.”
Earlier this year, Mike Archer was named president of the Applebee's brand. Both Archer and Hague report to Stewart.
“We have positioned both brands for success with leaders of the highest caliber,” Stewart said. “I will continue to play an integral role in shaping the strategic director of the business, with a particular focus on executing the successful turnaround of the Applebee’s brand and transforming its business model by franchising the majority of company-operated Applebee’s restaurants.”