Carin Stutz has been replaced as COO of Red Robin by Guy Constant, the casual-dining operator’s current CFO.
Constant will move into his new role as soon as his successor as CFO is hired, the company said. Red Robin CEO Denny Post will serve in the interim as COO. The company said it expects to find Constant’s replacement by early 2019.
Constant remains executive vice president, a title that had also been held by Stutz.
The change follows Red Robin’s attribution of weaker-than-expected second quarter results to a number of operational problems, including slow table turns and disregard for negative service feedback from customers. Post has vowed to put the chain back on track in part by keeping a laser-like focus on customer service times.
“As we look ahead to what Red Robin needs in operations leadership for the next stage of our business, we look forward to leveraging the considerable skills and experience of Guy Constant,” Post said in a statement. “He is highly strategic and clearly understands the challenges we face, as well as how to capitalize on our considerable opportunities.”
Constant was exposed to restaurant operations and development during the years he served as president of Chili’s International. But most of his recent career has been spent as a CFO, both for Brinker International and for the Rent-A-Center retail rental chain.
Stutz, who has spent her adult life in the restaurant business, joined Red Robin as COO in April 2016 after serving as president of the McAlister’s Deli fast-casual chain. Earlier, she served as CEO of Cosi, president of global business development for Chili’s parent Brinker International, and in senior operations posts within Applebee’s and Wendy’s.
“We are grateful for the many contributions Carin Stutz made to rebuilding our fundamentals during the past two years and wish her the very best,” Post said in the statement.
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