Johnny Rockets promotes Walker, deepens expansion bench

The Johnny Rockets group of retro-themed restaurants has promoted James Walker to president of development and operations, with responsibility for siting, design and construction.

Walker is also responsible for expanding Johnny Rockets at Home, an operation that licenses the restaurant chain’s name to consumer products.

Two industry veterans were hired to assist Walker in the expansion of Johnny Rockets and its two spin-off concepts, Route 66 and Johnny Rockets Express. Gene Savage has joined the company as director of franchise sales and real estate. He formerly held a director-level post at the parent company of The Brass Tap and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, Walker’s former employer.

Jim Hicks has come aboard at Rockets as SVP of domestic operations. He was formerly VP of operations services for the Japanese concept Yoshinoya America.

Rockets is owned by Sun Capital.

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