---
title: "Nation’s Restaurant News: California Pizza Kitchen Names Jim Hyatt CEO"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/79bbd0f0-42d8-4ae9-ba27-b02860e927f7
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/nations-restaurant-news-california-pizza-kitchen-names-jim-hyatt-ceo-2705316
category: "Restaurants"
industry: "Restaurants"
topics: ["People"]
published: 2018-01-22T16:11:46.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:31:45.312Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/defd64c239cfdddd13b7aebab91ef64e5486.jpg
---

# Nation’s Restaurant News: California Pizza Kitchen Names Jim Hyatt CEO

**TL;DR:** California Pizza Kitchen has named Jim Hyatt as its new CEO, replacing G.J. Hart who is retiring. Hyatt will oversee the brand's 300 restaurants across 13 countries.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2018-01-22. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/nations-restaurant-news-california-pizza-kitchen-names-jim-hyatt-ceo-2705316).*

## Story

Starting immediately, Jim Hyatt is taking on the role of California Pizza Kitchen CEO. According to a recent Nation’s Restaurant News article, Hyatt will be replacing current chief executive offer G.J. Hart who is retiring. Hyatt was most recently CEO of Ruby Tuesday but has plenty of restaurant leadership experience including Church’s Chicken and Cosí Inc. CEO as well as global operating officer of Burger King.

“G.J. led the revitalization of CPK’s brand and culture, and we are confident that Jim is the ideal person to take the reins as CPK embarks on its next stage of growth,” said Josh Olshansky, a managing director of CPK’s majority shareholder, Golden Gate Capital. “We are deeply grateful for G.J. for his leadership and contributions, and we wish him well in his future endeavors.”

Hyatt comes on board to the Los Angeles-based brand as it is prioritizing growth and he will oversee its 300 restaurants across 13 countries. Hart is confident his replacement will be able to build on the legacy he created.

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- brand growth (topic)
- Burger King (company)
- Church's Texas Chicken (company)
- California Pizza Kitchen (company)
- Ruby Tuesday (company)
- ceo change (topic)
- G.J. Hart (person)
- restaurant leadership (topic)
- Golden Gate Capital (investor)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/nations-restaurant-news-california-pizza-kitchen-names-jim-hyatt-ceo-2705316). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/79bbd0f0-42d8-4ae9-ba27-b02860e927f7).