Howard arrives at the company with a deep resume in the dining sector, having held leadership roles at CKE Restaurants, Cracker Barrel, and RGS. His appointment is framed by Chief Executive Chris Bode as a strategic step toward enhancing operational execution and strengthening the brand's competitive relevance in a crowded market.

The timing of this transition aligns with the company’s ongoing Project Grand Slam. This initiative focuses on a broad modernization effort, spanning menu innovation, physical facility upgrades, and the expansion of catering services. Howard’s mandate will be to translate these high-level objectives into consistent performance across the chain’s diverse locations.