Johnny Rockets Names Ceo

Johnny Rockets (Lake Forest, Calif.) has appointed John Fuller as president and ceo and named Tim Hackbardt as senior vp of marketing. Fuller, who joined the company in 2008 as chief financial officer, plans to focus on expansion efforts, including domestic and international franchise growth, as well as implementation of newly designed store concepts. Prior to joining Johnny Rockets, Fuller worked with restaurants companies such as Rubio's, Del Taco and CKE Restaurants.

“My vision is to embrace our customer-service-focused model that recognizes and addresses every level of customer within the organization, from the top down, and to bring greater market penetration by delivering the right Johnny Rockets concepts in the right locations,” says Fuller.

Hackbardt’s responsibilities will include consumer research, new media and product development. His 20-year career in restaurant marketing includes White Barn Group, a strategic marketing agency (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Rubio's Restaurants Inc. and Del Taco Inc.

Johnny Rockets plans to open 30 to 40 franchise locations this year, including three new concepts: sports lounges, mobile kitchens and a new FAST! model, which offers a new streamlined menu, “create-your-own-burger” option. The international restaurant chain is owned by RedZone Capital Fund II and operates 280 corporate and franchise-owned restaurants in 27 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and 11 countries.