Austin-based commercial real estate firm HPI has announced the launch of its Dallas Tenant Advisory Group, marking a strategic expansion of the firm’s platform. The new group will be led by Robbie Baty, a commercial real estate veteran with more than 20 years of experience representing tenants.…

The post Austin’s HPI Launches Dallas Tenant Advisory Group, Names Industry Veteran To Lead It appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Longtime Brinker International leader Aaron White has been promoted to executive vice president, chief operating officer, and chief people officer for the Dallas-based company’s restaurant brands, Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy.

In her expanded role, the 29-year company veteran will oversee both operations strategy and PeopleWorks across the Restaurant Support Center, Chili’s and Maggiano’s, with her leadership team focused on driving the company’s next level of operational improvements to improve the team member and guest experience, the company said.…

The post Brinker Int’l Promotes Leader to EVP, COO & Chief People Officer for Chili’s and Maggiano’s appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

“Chili’s is America’s hottest restaurant.”

.…headline from a CNN report on Dallas-based Chili’s restaurants posting a 31% sales jump last quarter.

Dallas-based Brinker International saw its stock (NYSE: EAT) jump 16% last Wednesday. One big reason: Its Chili’s Grill & Bar casual dining chain posted a Q4 sales jump of 31% for restaurants open at least a year.…

The post The Last Word: CNN on Why Chili’s Has Become So Hot, It’s ‘On Fire’ appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Mike Wesley has been appointed vice president of marketing at Maggiano’s Little Italy, the Italian food concept of Dallas-based Brinker International.

Brinker said that in his new role, Wesley will be instrumental in further amplifying and building the Maggiano’s brand as it enters its next era of classic Italian American dining, driving key marketing and promotional strategies.…

The post Brinker Appoints Industry Veteran as VP of Marketing at Maggiano’s Little Italy appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Dallas-based Brinker International (NYSE: EAT), the casual dining restaurant company behind Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy, has appointed Frank Liberio to its board of directors, the company announced Monday.

Liberio brings extensive technology leadership experience in the restaurant industry to Brinker’s board.…

The post Brinker International Appoints Former McDonald’s Global CIO to Its Board appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Longtime Brinker team member Jeremy Linker has been promoted to senior vice president of brand finance at the Dallas-based company’s restaurant brands Chili’s Grill & Bar and Maggiano’s Little Italy, effective June 27.

Linker, who has been at Brinker for more than 20 years, has held various roles in the brand’s accounting and finance departments, most recently as vice president, brand finance and construction, a role in which he implemented an exacting approach to the brand’s pricing strategy and guided the reinvestment of funds to the restaurants to ensure they are well-maintained and inviting for guests.…

The post Brinker International Promotes Longtime Exec to SVP of Brand Finance appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Brinker International Inc., a Dallas-based restaurant company, has announced changes to its executive leadership team.

The updates include the retirement of Joe Taylor as EVP and chief financial officer, the appointment of Mika Ware as SVP and chief financial officer, effective June 27, and the appointment of Chris Caldwell as SVP and chief information officer.…

The post Brinker International CFO Joe Taylor to Retire; New CFO and CIO Named Amid Executive Leadership Transition appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Dallas-based Brinker International Inc. announced that industry veteran Dominique Bertolone has been appointed president of Maggiano’s Little Italy and SVP of Brinker International.

Bertolone will lead and grow the Maggiano’s brand and serve as a member of Brinker’s executive leadership team, the company said.…

The post Brinker International Appoints New President of Maggiano’s Little Italy appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Dallas-based executive Pankaj Patra has been hired as the first chief digital and technology officer of Denny’s Corp., the South Carolina-based owner and operator of the Denny’s and Keke’s brands.

In a newly created enterprise role supporting both restaurant chains, Patra will accelerate capabilities across all digital, tech, and information areas, Denny’s said.…

The post Denny’s Hires Dallas-Based Exec as Its First Chief Digital and Technology Officer appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Dallas-based restaurant company Brinker International has added industry veteran Steve Kelly as vice president of marketing and award-winning business agency GALE to assist with its CRM (customer relationship management) activities.

The company said that the two moves will allow Chili’s Grill & Bar to serve guests “in a more compelling way” as the brand revamps its digital presence.…

The post Chili’s Grill & Bar Targets Enhanced CRM Program with VP of Marketing, Agency Additions appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Edithann Velez Ramey has been appointed chief marketing officer of Arlington-based Six Flags Entertainment Corp., the world’s largest regional theme park company and the largest operator of waterparks in North America. Her appointment is effective on February 27.

The new CMO brings an “extensive track record of creating strategies that attract customers, build loyalty and showcase brand strengths,” Selim Bassoul, Six Flags president and CEO, said in a statement.…

The post Theme Park Giant Six Flags Entertainment Corp. Names New Chief Marketing Officer appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

James Butler has joined Dallas-based restaurant company Brinker International Inc.—parent company of Chili’s— as senior vice president and chief supply chain officer.

It’s a role in which he will oversee all supply chain functions, including procurement, food safety and quality assurance, distribution and logistics, brand program management and supply chain systems for Brinker’s corporate-owned restaurants.…

The post Brinker International Taps Industry Vet as SVP, Chief Supply Chain Officer appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Jesse Johnson has joined Dallas-based restaurant company Brinker International Inc. as vice president of marketing, a newly created role at the company.

Johnson will develop and execute marketing strategies for Chili’s Grill & Bar and bring the brand to life across multiple touchpoints, including advertising, media, PR, and the guest experience, the company said.…

The post Brinker International Adds New Vice President of Marketing to Leadership Group appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Late last week, members of the largest tech trade organization in the Lone Star State convened to honor the top players in the North Texas ecosystem.

At the Richardson-based Tech Titans Awards gala at the Eismann Center, a number of local tech firms and individuals were highlighted for their “innovative work and leadership.”…

The post Local Innovators, Fastest-Growing Company Honored at Annual Tech Titan Awards Gala appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Globe Life Announces Top Executive Leadership Changes

McKinney-based Globe Life Inc. has announced changes to its top executive leadership team. Effective December 31, 2022, Co-Chairmen and Co-CEOs Gary L. Coleman and Larry M. Hutchison will step down as Co-CEOs. They will continue to serve in an executive capacity as co-chairmen of Globe Life’s board of directors. …

The post DI People: Globe Life, Keurig Dr Pepper, ORCA AG, and More Make Leadership Moves appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Every year, Tech Titans highlights the top movers and shakers in the North Texas technology ecosystem.

Richardson-based Tech Titans—the largest technology trade organization in Texas—boasts more than 300 member companies that collectively represent about a quarter-million employees.

The group recognizes the region’s elite in technology with its signature Tech Titans Awards.…

The post Meet the 43 Finalists for the 2022 Tech Titans Awards appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Brinker International Appoints Former KFC President to Succeed Roberts as CEO

Brinker International Inc., the Dallas-based restaurant company, announced today that Kevin Hochman will succeed Wyman Roberts, who is retiring as CEO and president and a member of the board, effective June 5.…

The post DI People: Brinker International, DART, GameStop, Stream Data Centers, ATTPAC, Dallas Regional Chamber, and More Make Leadership Moves appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

If you visit a local Chili’s Bar and Grill soon, there’s a chance your food runner will be named Rita. She’s a bit over three feet tall, can carry a total of 66 pounds, and has a sweet “Happy Birthday” singing voice.…

The post ‘The Future of Dining’: Chili’s Expands Robot Servers to 61 Total Restaurants appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Talk about fast food. Today, Israel-based Flytrex began flying chicken wings from a Chili’s in Granbury to back yards and businesses up to one mile away. In flights that average 3 minutes 30 seconds, wings zoom over Lake Granbury, pause above their destination, and are lowered to the ground in a bright yellow bag, while the Flytrex drone hovers 80 feet above.…

The post Flytrex and Brinker Are About to Drop Wings by Drone Into DFW Back Yards appeared first on Dallas Innovates.

Across North Texas, companies are promoting and hiring people to take on leadership positions within their organizations.

Dallas Innovates covers prominent personnel moves in Dallas-Fort Worth businesses and nonprofits—from the newest startups to well-established companies. Here are the people moves tied to innovation and technology in the region.…

The post DI People: Match Group, Brinker International, Capital Alliance Corp, and More Make Moves appeared first on Dallas Innovates.