Editorial: Who's Who in Chains

Our coverage of chain restaurants wouldn't be the same without the personalities.

By Mary Boltz Chapman, Editor-in-Chief -- Chain Leader, 8/1/2006

Several years ago, a former publisher was in my office (it was a cubicle at the time) looking for an old issue of Chain Leader. Scanning the magazine’s covers, he said, “This is a who’s who of chain restaurants.” That comment was the kernel that eventually evolved into our Cover Society, which is comprised of the industry leaders who have been on the cover of Chain Leader since our debut issue in August 1996. All of its 109 members are in a special anniversary section.

Cover Models
In that feature we note that some of these executives are still powerful industry leaders, while others just aren’t. But there isn’t one that I wish I could turn back time and change. There are those who didn’t do what they set out to do, or maybe their skills and experience weren’t meant for the restaurant industry. Yet each one had at the time a compelling story and was worth knowing about. I do regret, however, a few that will not become members of the Cover Society—some for reasons of their own, some for reasons out of anyone’s control.

We try to keep track of all of our Cover Society members. Some have retired or moved to different industries, but they will always be on the list. A few, sadly, have passed away: former IHOP Chairman Kim Herzer, Yum Brands CEO Andrall Pearson and, just this week, Hooters Chairman Bob Brooks. There are a couple that have disappeared. Anyone know how to reach former Hard Rock CEO Jim Berk or Checker’s CEO Dan Dorsch?

Who’s Next
We editors also have our own lists of who we expect to see on the cover. There are companies and executives that we follow, just waiting for the right moment to pull the trigger. Some are women and minorities. Most are still white males in their 40s and 50s, like the majority of people on our “Then & Now” spread.

We even have some long-term cover potentials in mind. But here is where we need your help. And one of the reasons we created the Protégé award. Who do you think will someday be on the cover of the magazine because you see the smarts, strength and leadership in this person today?

Your Vote Counts
The Protégé award is part of our Chain Leader Execution Awards, which we will present at the Chain Leader LIVE conference Nov. 1-3 in Chicago. We’re looking for someone under 40 and ready to take the next step to executive leadership. A person who has shown measurable achievement, strong leadership and great promise. He or she might be running a department or region in your company or an entrepreneur creating a new chain. Last year’s winner was Billy Downs, founder and president of bd’s Mongolian Barbeque.

Please tell us who you think should win our Protégé award and why he or she deserves it. Send me a note at the e-mail or postal address on the left side of this page. Keep it simple and brief: under 250 words. We editors will read each submission, do some research and select the best. Watch for the winner to be featured in the pages of the magazine, and come celebrate the award at Chain Leader LIVE.

Then act surprised when you see his or her face on the cover of the magazine in a few years.