SPB Hospitality has appointed an interim CEO and new CFO, the company said in an email to Restaurant Dive Monday. Josh Kern, who most recently served as president of concepts at SPB, became interim CEO and subsequently named interim CFO Jessica Hagler as permanent CFO. The new appointments come over a year after the company acquired J. Alexander’s.
As president of concepts, Kern oversaw marketing, culinary, beverage, supply chain and information technology. His career at SPB began over three years ago when he was appointed CMO, according to his LinkedIn profile. Kern, who has over a decade of restaurant industry experience, also held CMO roles at Quiznos, American Blue Ribbon Holdings, Smashburger and Cerca Trova Restaurant Concepts, per his profile.
Hagler became SPB’s interim CFO in April and previously served as vice president, CFO, treasurer and secretary at J. Alexander’s until its acquisition. She also served as VP, controller and chief accounting officer as well as director of financial reporting and director of compliance at J. Alexander’s, working at the chain for over a decade, according to her LinkedIn profile.
SPB Hospitality, which is backed by Fortress Investment Group, owns hundreds of restaurants and breweries in 39 states. Brands include Logan’s Roadhouse, Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom, Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery and Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant, which were acquired in 2020. The company also operates various virtual brands including Twisted Tenders, Ember Smoked and Logan’s on the Road.
