Chuck E. Cheese, Topgolf, Jersey Mike's and more shake up their executive rosters

Executive Summary: CEC Entertainment named Scott Drake CFO, Topgolf added Maryam Morse as chief people officer, Jersey Mike's promoted Jamie Kapalko to VP and general counsel, and more recent restaurant executive news. 

Scott Drake is the new CFO and EVP at CEC Entertainment, the parent company of Chuck E. Cheese, Peter Piper Pizza and virtual concept Pasqually’s Pizza & Wings. Most recently, Drake served as CFO and treasurer of Farmer Bros. Co. He has also worked for GameStop, 7-Eleven, Coca-Cola, La Madeleine French Bakery & Café and others.

CEC Entertainment also made the following executive changes: Antonio Barron becomes VP of purchasing and games for Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza; Justin Lee has been promoted to VP of construction, design and facilities; and David Deck has been promoted to EVP, general counsel and chief compliance officer.

Eatertainment chain Topgolf named Maryam Morse as chief people officer, effective Monday. Morse joins the brand from Andrews Distributing, where she served as EVP of human resources and communications. She will report to Topgolf CEO Artie Starrs.

Jersey Mike’s Subs has promoted Jamie Kapalko to vice president and general counsel, with responsibility for regulatory compliance, corporate contracts and all other legal matters. The Harvard Law School graduate was previously deputy general counsel. She joined the nearly-3,000-unit chain in 2015.

Marco’s Pizza has promoted Kristin Corcoran to the position of chief legal counsel. Corcoran, who previously served as Marco’s VP of Corporate Counsel, has more than 30 years’ experience providing legal counsel within the franchising industry. As CLC she will serve as the primary legal advisor to the company, working closely with the leadership team and various department heads.

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) has tapped April Verrett, a 20-year veteran of the union, to succeed May Kay Henry as international president. Previously secretary-treasurer under Henry, Verrett is the first Black woman to hold the position, according to the group. Henry is stepping down after leading the foodservice industry’s largest union for 14 years.

Michael Anthony has been named the official chef partner of the Waldorf Astoria New York. Anthony earned acclaim as the award-winning chef at Gramercy Tavern, the Michelin-starred restaurant operated by Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group. The landmark hotel is reopening later this year after an extensive renovation, and Anthony will oversee the menu at its new two-story American Brasserie-style restaurant. “I'm delighted to embark on this new era with the property while bringing my passion for sustainable, locally sourced cuisine to such a storied setting, further contributing to the vibrant tapestry of New York's modern dining scene," said Anthony in a statement.

Goran Basarov is the new executive chef at The Quail Lodge in Carmel Valley, California. Basarov will oversee the food-and-beverage program for the property, as well as the signature restaurant Edgar’s, and the newly renovated Covey Grill. His previous experience includes serving most recently as executive sous chef at Selby’s in Redwood City, California, a Michelin-starred restaurant.

Ahead of the grand opening of The Commodore, a waterfront property on Nagawicka Lake that is the newest restaurant from Milwaukee-based Bartolotta Restaurants, Jesse Kloskey has been named executive chef; and Justin Crowe is the new general manager.

‌Kloskey was most recently culinary director of the Chatwal Lodge in White Lake, New York, and he held executive chef roles at Red Sushi and Rare Steakhouse in Madison, Wisconsin. Crowe was previously at the Big Cedar Lodge in Branson, Missouri, where he was general manager of the five Top of the Rock dining outlets.

Mary Mendoza has joined the Washington, D.C. restaurants Centrolina and Piccolina da Centrolina as executive pastry chef. It’s a return to Centrolina for Mendoza, who worked there previously, as well as at the concepts Kinship, Obelisk and Pluma Bakery before joining Daikaya Group.

Pizza Hut named Kalen Thornton (pictured) its new chief brand officer. Thornton will lead global brand strategy and marketing across 110 markets and territories around the globe. He comes to the chain from PepsiCo North America, where he was VP of sports and entertainment marketing. The company also named Melissa Friebe chief marketing officer for the U.S. She will report to Pizza Hut U.S. President Carl Loredo. She comes to the chain from Taco Bell, where she had been chief brand strategy officer.