Benihana Inc., operator of the nation’s largest chain of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants, today announced that it has hired David Flanery as Chief Financial Officer, effective immediately. Formerly Chief Financial Officer at Papa John’s International Inc., Mr. Flanery will be based in Miami and report directly to Richard Stockinger, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Benihana Inc. He replaces Gene R. Baldwin, who has served as Interim Chief Financial Officer since January 2010 and who will continue in a transition role for a brief period.
Mr. Stockinger said, “We are thrilled to be adding David to the Benihana management team. His deep, wide-ranging experience as a senior financial executive at a public restaurant company will help us build on the momentum we have generated over the last two years and continue to prepare for a new phase of growth. I would like to thank Gene Baldwin for his important contributions to the Company. We wish him nothing but the best in the future.”
Mr. Flanery is a seasoned restaurant executive with 17 years of experience at Papa John’s, a period that saw the company grow from a regional chain of 400 restaurants to a global brand with 3,700 restaurants in all 50 states and 32 countries. From 2004 to 2011, he was Chief Financial Officer, overseeing all finance functions, including SEC reporting, treasury management and investor relations. During that time, he had added responsibility for international operations for approximately three years. Prior to becoming CFO, he held senior finance positions at Papa John’s with additional responsibility, at various times, for information systems and supply chain. Before joining Papa John’s in 1994, he spent 15 years with Ernst & Young, where he rose from Staff Accountant to Senior Manager. Mr. Flanery is a Certified Public Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting from the University of Kentucky.
Mr. Flanery said, “This is a tremendous opportunity. I have watched the recent turnaround at Benihana Inc. with admiration, and I am looking forward to working with the Company’s talented management team and employees to help it reach its considerable potential.”
During his tenure at Benihana Inc., Mr. Baldwin retained his position as partner at consulting firm CRG Partners Group, LLC, and he will resume that role on a full-time basis following the transition period.
Headquartered in Miami, Benihana Inc. is the nation’s leading operator of Japanese theme and sushi restaurants with 96 restaurants nationwide, including 63 Benihana restaurants, eight Haru sushi restaurants and 25 RA Sushi restaurants. In addition, 18 franchised Benihana restaurants are operating in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean.