GLENDALE Calif. IHOP Corp. said it has hired Michael J. Archer away from T.G.I. Friday’s U.S.A. to assume the vacant president’s post at Applebee’s International, effective May 27. Friday’s has yet to name a replacement for Archer, who served the Applebee’s archrival as president and chief operating officer.
Archer will be based in Lenexa, Kan., and will report to Julie Stewart, IHOP’s chairman and chief executive, according to the announcement. Stewart has been overseeing the day-to-day operations of Applebee’s since Dave Goebel surrendered his duties as president and CEO during the chain’s $2.3 billion buyout by IHOP.
“We are pleased to welcome Mike to the Applebee’s team,” Stewart said. “He possesses a keen understanding of the restaurant industry, particularly the grill and bar category that Applebee’s competes in.”
Stewart said part of Archer’s mission would be to “improve the operational performance of our company-operated and franchise restaurants, and continue the transformation of our business model.”
She noted that she would continue to be “actively involved in defining the company’s strategic direction and implementing key initiatives.” Stewart recently identified such near-term turnaround efforts as paring down the grill chain’s menu, focusing on bar operations, and overhauling marketing efforts to focus on the concept’s points of difference.
Prior to joining Friday’s, Archer served as president and chief executive of Z’Tejas Southwestern Grill, a high-end casual-dining concept. He also has served as COO of Sullivan’s and Del Frisco’s, the high-end brands of Lone Star Steakhouse, and as president and chief operating officer of Morton’s of Chicago Inc., another steakhouse operator.
IHOP, which is also the parent of the IHOP family-dining chain, operates or franchises 3,300 full-service restaurants in total.