Leadership

Josh Kern named CraftWorks Chief Experience Officer

Kern will focus on efforts to improve customer service and marketing for the owner of Logan's Roadhouse.
Photograph courtesy of CraftWorks Holdings

CraftWorks Holdings, a 390-unit restaurant operator, on Monday named longtime industry executive Josh Kern its new “chief experience officer.”

Kern will be responsible for helping Craftworks’ concepts improve customer service. He will also oversee the brands’ strategy, marketing, brewery, culinary and digital efforts and will report to CEO Hazem Ouf.

He will oversee service standards, customer insights and engagement for Logan’s Roadhouse, Rock Bottom Restaurants and Gordon Biersch Brewery.

Ouf called Kern “a seasoned executive who creatively transforms information and data into breakthrough ideas.” He also said that the company is focused on improving quality and innovation at all of the company’s brands. “Josh is exactly the right leader to showcase that commitment and build our marketing efforts nationally,” Ouf said.

Kern has more than 20 years of experience, most recently as the CMO for Cerca Trova Restaurant Concepts, an Outback Steakhouse franchisee. He has worked with Quiznos, American Blue Ribbon Holdings and former Smashburger parent Consumer Capital Partners.

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