BJ's Restaurants, Inc. (NASDAQ: BJRI) has announced the appointment of Lyle D. Tick as the President and Chief Concept Officer, effective September 9, 2024. Mr. Tick brings with him a wealth of experience from his previous roles, including as the former Brand President of Buffalo Wild Wings and President and Chief Executive Officer of On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina.
During his tenure at Buffalo Wild Wings from 2018 to 2023, Mr. Tick led a team that revitalized the brand, resulting in a recognition for the best menu revamp in 2020. Additionally, he played a crucial role in launching the Buffalo Wild Wings Go sub-brand.
Prior to his role at Buffalo Wild Wings, Mr. Tick served as the Managing Director, Boots Retail USA for Walgreens Boots Alliance, where he led the reorganization and scaling of the beauty brands business in the Americas. His efforts led to the establishment of No7 as the leading mass anti-aging serum brand in the United States.
Commenting on the appointment, interim Chief Executive Officer C. Bradford ("Brad") Richmond expressed his delight at welcoming Lyle to the BJ's team, citing his history of leading iconic brands to unlock new chapters of growth and drive consumer relevance.
In addition to Mr. Tick's experience in the casual dining space, his extensive background in consumer goods and spirit brands is expected to bring a fresh perspective to BJ's marketing, innovation, culinary, beverage, and brewing teams.
Board Chair Lea Anne S. Ottinger also emphasized the successful strategy development and implementation, growth in sales and profitability, and business model enhancements demonstrated by both Lyle and Brad in their previous roles, expressing confidence in the team's ability to deliver enhanced financial outcomes and increase shareholder value.
In response to his appointment, Mr. Tick expressed his enthusiasm in joining BJ's as it shapes its next chapter of growth and prosperity. He looks forward to driving increased awareness of the BJ's brand, as well as higher sales, traffic, and margin improvement to position the company for ongoing growth and an increased share of the market.
BJ's Restaurants, Inc. is a national brand with brewhouse roots, offering a broad menu that includes slow-roasted entrees, signature deep-dish pizza, and the world-famous Pizookie dessert. The company operates over 200 casual dining restaurants in 31 states, offering dine-in, take-out, delivery, and large party catering.
Following these announcements, the company's shares moved -2.9%, and are now trading at a price of $29.74. Check out the company's full 8-K submission here.
