CULVER CITY Calif. Sizzler USA, based here, appointed two executives to new positions and also announced a shift to a trans-fat-free cooking oil. Forbes Collins is rejoining Sizzler as director of operations after a two-year absence from...

LOUISVILLE Ky. The board of directors of Papa John's International has approved a request from founder and longtime chairman John Schnatter to change his status to "non-employee" and founder chairman. It was unclear how his duties as chairman...

NORTHBOROUGH Mass. Bertucci's Corp., owner of the Bertucci's Italian Restaurant and Vinny T's of Boston concepts, has promoted Francis Christman to chief operating officer and Maria Feicht to senior vice president of marketing. Christman...

LOUISVILLE Ky. Papa John's International has promoted Bill Mitchell to senior vice president, domestic operations; Sean Muldoon to vice president and general manager, Preferred Marketing Solutions; and Greg Horsman to vice president, applications...

IRVINE Calif. Taco Bell Corp. has named David Ovens to succeed Bill Pearce as chief marketing officer. Ovens, currently CMO for Yum! Restaurants International in Australia and New Zealand, will take over marketing oversight of the 5,600...

CARPINTERIA Calif. CKE Restaurants Inc. has promoted Noah Griggs to executive vice president of training for its Carl's Jr. and Hardee's quick-service burger chains. His former duties as executive vice president of operations for Hardee's...

CHICAGO The Illinois Restaurant Association has named Sheila O'Grady as its new president. She formerly served as chief of staff to Mayor Richard M. Daley and as first deputy commissioner of the Department of Planning and Development for the city...

CARLSBAD Calif. John Fuller, chief financial officer of Rubio's Restaurants Inc., based here, is stepping down from the fast-casual Mexican chain to head the financial team at JC Resorts, a San Diego-based hospitality company. Fuller's resignation...

TAMPA Fla. Checkers Drive-In Restaurants Inc. has hired Terri Snyder as executive vice president and chief marketing officer for its 800 Checkers and Rally’s Hamburgers restaurants. Snyder, who has more than 20 years of marketing experience...