Casual-dining restaurant operator SPB Hospitality on Monday named Josh Kern interim CEO. He, in turn, named Jessica Hagler the company’s chief financial officer, a position she has held on an interim basis since April.
Kern was promoted from the position of president of Concepts for SPB, which is the parent company of Logan’s Roadhouse, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery and Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant. The Houston-based company also operates ChopHouse & Brewery, Big River Grille & Brewing Works, AIA Ale Works Restaurant & Taproom, Ragtime Tavern Seafood & Grill, J. Alexander’s Restaurant, Merus Grill, Redlands Grill, Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill, and Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery.
Kern’s résumé also includes leadership positions at Quiznos, American Blue-Ribbon Holdings, Smashburger, and Cerca Trova Restaurant Concepts. He began working with restaurants at the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency on a campaign for quick-service chain White Castle.
“Josh has played in integral role in the growth and success of SPB Hospitality, so he was the obvious choice to serve in this new leadership role,” Morgan McClure, President of SPB Hospitality and Managing Director at Fortress Investment Group, which owns SPB, said in a press release announcing the appointments. “We have enormous confidence in both Josh and Jessica to lead these brands and build on the vision for our collection of restaurant brands and their thousands of team members across the country.”
Kern said he was “honored to take the reins at such an exciting time for SPB Hospitality as we work together to build on our momentum. In my 25 years in the restaurant industry, I’ve been fortunate to be part of many great brands, and I see that same greatness in the SPB Hospitality portfolio. I’m inspired by being on-site at our locations and talking with the people who create outstanding dining experiences for our guests each day. There is extraordinary potential in this collection of brands, and I’m proud to be a part of this exceptional team.”
The CFO, Jessica Hagler, previously was vice president, CFO, treasurer and secretary of J. Alexander’s until SPB acquired it in September of 2021. She previously held other financial and accounting positions at that company and before that was a senior manager in audit practice for accounting services firm
Contact Bret Thorn at [email protected]