Famous Dave’s said it has named Adam Wright chief executive officer of the barbecue chain.
Wright, an investor who has served as the chain’s interim CEO since June, replaced former CEO Ed Rensi, who had vowed to make the casual-dining chain more modern but stepped down just 16 months after taking up the chief executive post.
“We are impressed with the steps Adam has taken to move the business forward since his appointment as interim CEO six months ago,” Joseph Jacobs, chairman of the board, said in a statement. “As a longtime investor, he understands the challenges that the company faces and the opportunities ahead. We are confident in his leadership and strategy for the future.”
Famous Dave’s in October reconnected with founder Dave Anderson—with whom it had parted ways in 2014—underscoring the chain’s efforts to return to its roots after experiments with happy hour promotions, smaller portion sizes and menu changes dragged down sales.
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