Gj hart biography

Mr.
GJ Hart is president, CEO, and executive chair of California Pizza Kitchen.
A highly respected industry leader with 36 years of foodservice operations and management experience, G.J. has a proven track record of growing casual and fast.

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How I Made It: He’s joined the upper crust at California Pizza Kitchen

The gig: G.J. Hart (the initials stand for Gerard Johan) heads California Pizza Kitchen, the restaurant chain based in Playa Vista. As chief executive and executive chairman, Hart, 58, oversees a company with nearly 300 eateries and 14,000 employees around the world. Hart has been in charge of turning around the fast-casual chain, which suffered years of sales declines before it was taken private in 2011. He has led efforts to revamp both the menus and the look of the eateries to keep up with the changing palates of America’s diners.

The Dutch boy: Hart was born in the Netherlands and immigrated with his parents and sister to the U.S. at age 5. Growing up in modest circumstances, Hart said he knew he’d have to make his own way in the world. He got his first job as a Little League umpire at age 13. Hart also worked as a Kmart cashier, a highway flagman and a Howard Johnson’s dishwasher and short-order cook. “I’ve always wanted to get ahead,” Hart said.

Turkey calling: Because he had to put himself

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Thirty Minute Mentors Podcast Transcript: Red Robin CEO G.J. Hart

I recently interviewed Red Robin CEO G.J. Hart on my podcast, Thirty Minute Mentors. Here is a transcript of our interview:

Adam: Our guest today is the CEO of one of America's leading burger chains. G.J. Hart is the CEO of Red Robin, where he leads a billion-dollar business that consists of more than 500 restaurants, and roughly 25,000 employees. G.J., thank you for joining us.

G.J.: Thanks for having me today.

Adam: You were born in the Netherlands. But you grew up in Virginia, in the country. And you did your undergrad at James Madison University, where you now have a school of hospitality named after you. But you came from humble means and you worked your way through college, hanging turkeys at a poultry farm. Can you take listeners back to your early days? What experiences and lessons were most instrumental to shaping your worldview into shaping the trajectory of your success?

G.J.: Sure. I have to go back a little bit. I'm Dutch, I'm an immigrant. My parents came to the US in an odd way. My mom was a pris

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Full Name

GJ Hart

Company

Torchy's Tacos

Job Title

CEO

Speaker Bio

G.J. Hart is the CEO at Torchy’s Tacos, a fast-casual restaurant concept that serves Damn Good tacos to guests in a fun, unique atmosphere at more than 60 locations in Texas, Oklahoma and Colorado. Prior to joining Torchy’s, he served as Executive Chairman and CEO of California Pizza Kitchen, the
pioneer of creative dining with a California vibe. Prior to CPK, he served as President and CEO of Louisville-based Texas Roadhouse restaurants where he expanded the brand to more than 450 restaurants in 49 states and two international markets. A foodservice veteran with more than 36 years of experience, Hart received one of the industry’s highest honors in 2017 when he was named the winner of the International Foodservice Manufacturers
Association’s 2017 Silver Plate Award in the Chain Full Service category.