Clifton Rutledge, the former CEO of Bojangles, on Monday was named CEO of the Houston-based doughnut chain Shipley Do-Nuts.
Hank Simpson was also named chief operating officer of the 300-unit chain, which was sold to the private equity firm Peak Rock Capital in January.
Rutledge has been an industry executive for more than three decades and most recently was the chief operating officer at Jack’s Family Restaurants. Before that, he led Bojangles and had previously led operations with the burger chain Whataburger. Rutledge had been the executive chairman at Shipley.
Simpson, meanwhile, had been the chief development and franchise officer for the bakery/café chain Panera Bread.
The two executives bring “impressive track records across numerous industry leadership roles,” Robert Strauss, a Shipley board member, said in a statement. He noted that their experience “will help drive growth in the business through new unit expansion, same-store sales growth and enhanced operations.”
Shipley Do-Nuts, which includes Shipley Franchise Company and Shipley Do-Nut Flour & Supply Co., was founded in 1936. It operates more than 300 locations in nine states. The company wants to double its store count over the next five years in existing and new geographies.
Craig Lindberg, who has been Shipley’s president, remains in his role, the company said.
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