Dave & Buster’s on Monday announced its executive leadership team, less than two weeks after the eatertainment chain completed its acquisition of Main Event and installed a new CEO.
Chris Morris, previously the head of food-and-games chain Main Event, is CEO of the combined company following the $835 million deal.
Appointed to the Dave & Buster’s C-suite are:
- Antonio Bautista, chief international development officer
- Rob Edmund, chief people and legal officer
- Steve Klohn, chief information officer
- Les Lehner, chief procurement officer and head of Main Event development
- John Mulleady, chief development officer
- Michael Quartieri, chief financial officer
- Tony Wehner, chief operating officer
- Ashley Zickefoose, chief marketing officer
The hires take effect August 1.
The group is a familiar one to both Dave & Buster’s and Main Event. Each of the executives came from one of the food-and-games brands, according to LinkedIn.
“The depth of expertise and proven track record of this team is a testament to the incredible talent across our two brands, and I look forward to all that we will achieve together,” Morris said in statement.
Incumbent leaders of both chains will remain for the next several weeks to ease the transition, the company said.
Coppell, Texas-based Dave & Buster’s, which has been in business for 40 years, has 147 food-and-games centers in North America. Dallas-based Main Event, which debuted in 1998, has 50 locations in 17 states.
The two concepts are similar in their focus on food, drinks and games. But their demographic targets differ: Main Event largely seeks to draw families with young children while Dave & Buster’s caters to young adults.
Dave & Buster’s is scheduled to update investors on its acquisition of Main Event during a conference call early Tuesday morning.
Both concepts struggled during the pandemic, but Dave & Buster’s last month announced a record first quarter, with same-store sales up 10.9% over 2019.
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