After just seven months as Shell Shack's chief operating officer, Monte Batson has been promoted to CEO of the emerging seafood boil concept.
Co-founder and former CEO Dallas Hale will step back from day-to-day operations to become chairman of the board, where he'll remain involved in the direction of the company.
The seven-unit Dallas-based chain was acquired in December by TriSpan Partners for an undisclosed sum. It plans to open five new restaurants a year starting in 2023.
Batson's restaurant experience includes COO positions at Zalat Pizza and On the Border. He was also a regional vice president at Outback Steakhouse.
“Shell Shack is one of the most exciting restaurants in the country right now, and I’m honored to be its CEO,” Batson said in a statement. “We’re poised for significant growth, and with Dallas Hale’s continued vision and mentorship, and the backing of TriSpan, we’re better positioned than ever to bring our concept to new markets.”
Hale and Matt Saba co-founded Shell Shack in 2013, developing the concept around a special "Kitchen Sink" sauce they concocted at a sports bar they owned. It serves crab, crawfish and other seafood in a communal fashion and is one of the few restaurants in Texas to offer the coveted bairdi crab.
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