COCA-COLA
Coca-Cola Enterprises named UPS executive Calvin “Cal” Darden as a director. Darden is senior vice president of U.S. operations of the UPS Inc. He is a member of the UPS Management Committee and joined the UPS board of directors in 2001.
GLENAYRE
Glenayre Technologies Inc. appointed Kristopher A. Wood vice chairman and chief acquisitions officer of the company. Wood, previously a managing director with Chancery Lane Capital LLC, has 10 years of strategic acquisition and investment experience, including a role as managing director of mergers and acquisitions for Big Flower Holdings Inc., where he led numerous successful acquisitions.
HACKETT GROUP
Business advisory firm The Hackett Group named Wayne Mincey president and COO. Most recently, Mincey served as president of the Spherion Technology Group, a $300 million IT consulting, managed services and staffing company. He will focus his initial efforts on developing Hackett’s 2004 strategic and operating plan.
HOME DEPOT
Eric Peterson, a 10-year Home Depot veteran, was named president — strategic markets, based in Atlanta. In this new position, which will report to Bob Nardelli, chairman, president and CEO, Peterson will be responsible for optimizing operations, in-store merchandising, store prototypes and human resource strategies within targeted growth markets. He most recently served as division president of the company’s Northwest division based in Seattle.
RAVING BRANDS!
Rick Akam, former CEO and president of Hooters of America, joined Raving Brands! in charge of the operations of Moe’s Southwest Grill and Mama Fu’s Noodle House. Akam, who spent almost 20 years with Hooters of America, the last eight as CEO and president, is well-versed in overseeing growth. He stewarded the Hooters brand from 61 company-owned restaurants and 130 franchised restaurants to 114 and 230, respectively. Revenue for 2003 is expected to hit $750 million.
GEORGIA GULF
Georgia Gulf Corp. named James T. Matthews vice president, finance, and CFO. Matthews succeeds Dick Marchese,who served as Georgia Gulf’s CFO from 1989 until his retirement last month. Prior to joining Georgia Gulf, Matthews was treasurer of The Mead Corp. in Dayton, Ohio.
SYNOVUS
Financial services company Synovus promoted Donald D. Howard to regional CEO for the Atlanta market. Howard will continue to serve as chairman and CEO of Synovus affiliate, the Bank of North Georgia, headquartered in Alpharetta. In his new additional role as regional CEO, he has overall responsibility for strategic activities in the Synovus banks in the Atlanta region.
TRANSCEND SERVICES
Transcend Services Inc. added the duties of president to Thomas C. Binion, the company’s COO. Prior to his promotion to president, Binion has served as vice president of production management since August 2000 and as COO since January 2003. Binion provided financial consulting services to the company as an independent contractor since January 2001.
AFC Enterprises names Beilstein CFO
AFC Enterprises Inc., the franchisor and operator of Popeye’s Chicken & Biscuits, Church’s Chicken and Cinnabon, appointed Frederick B. Beilstein CFO. In addition to overseeing the company’s financial matters, Beilstein is responsible for determining and implementing the most effective strategies for AFC to leverage its financial flexibility and maximize shareholder value.
“Fred has demonstrated a range and depth of management and financial experience that makes him the ideal person to assume the CFO position for AFC, which is a role that I have held since April, in addition to my duties as chairman and CEO,” said Frank Belatti. “Fred’s extensive financial background will greatly assist us in our efforts to drive stakeholder value.”
Beilstein joins AFC with considerable financial and transaction related experience. As CFO of Days Inn of America, he was instrumental to the company’s initial public stock offering, private debt placements and public debt offerings. Most recently, he was the principal and founder of Beilstein & Co., a financial and operational consulting practice with concentration in advising companies on strategic issues such as refinancing and recapitalization opportunities.
