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Benihana names Flanery CFO

Benihana Inc., the Miami-based operator of Japanese hibachi and sushi restaurants, has named David Flanery chief financial officer.

Previously, Flanery worked at Papa John’s Pizza for 17 years, where he served as chief financial officer from 2004 to 2011.

Flanery replaces Gene R. Baldwin, who has served as interim CFO since January 2010. Baldwin will continue in a transition role for a brief period.

He will be based in Miami and report directly to Benihana chief executive Richard Stockinger.

“We are thrilled to be adding David to the Benihana management team,” Stockinger said in a statement. “His deep, wide-ranging experience as a senior financial executive at a public restaurant company will help us build on the momentum we have generated over the last two years and continue to prepare for a new phase of growth.”

During Flanery’s time at Papa John’s, the Louisville, Ken.-based pizza concept grew from a regional chain of 400 restaurants to a global brand with 3,700 restaurants in all 50 states and 32 countries.

Before joining Papa John’s in 1994, Flanery worked for 15 years at Ernst & Young, where he rose from staff accountant to senior manager.

“This is a tremendous opportunity,” Flanery said in a statement. “I have watched the recent turnaround at Benihana Inc. with admiration, and I am looking forward to working with the company’s talented management team and employees to help it reach its considerable potential.”

Benihana operates Benihana of Tokyo, Haru, RA Sushi and Sushi Doraku.

Contact Alan Snel at [email protected].
Follow him on Twitter: @AlanSnelNRN
 

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