Zoës Kitchen, a fast-casual restaurant offering fresh and wholesome Mediterranean-inspired dishes hand prepared daily, announced the promotion of Kevin Miles to CEO. Formerly president and chief operating office for the company, Miles' promotion is effective immediately.
"Kevin's abilities as a leader have been evident since he joined Zoës Kitchen," says Rahu Aggarwal, managing director at Brentwood Associates, Zoës Kitchen's lead investor. "His extensive experience in the fast-casual industry has allowed for the implementation of unique strategies and the creation of internal teams that have consistently delivered industry-leading results."
Chairman of the Board Greg Dollarhyde says, "I have worked with Kevin for years, and he is the ideal leader to develop the strategies and drive the aggressive growth plans of Zoës going forward. We are all very excited about the future of our team and the company with Kevin at the helm."
In his role as CEO, Miles will oversee all aspects of Zoës Kitchen's strategy, including driving brand development, operations, and a high growth restaurant development plan. He will leverage close to 20 years of fast-casual industry experience to help the company continue to achieve exceptional growth through same-store sales and new unit development.
He will also spearhead long-term efforts focused on raising widespread awareness on the benefits of better-for-you meals options, as well as bringing the Mediterranean cuisine and lifestyle mainstream.
"From shining the spotlight on the Mediterranean lifestyle to ensuring we only use high-quality, fresh, and wholesome ingredients, Zoës Kitchen offers a number of unique points of difference that speak to the brand's potential within the rapidly growing fast-casual category," Miles says. "I plan to draw upon my experience in this space and the talent of our dynamic team to tackle the challenges and opportunities we'll face as we remain focused on growth and build a brand that changes the landscape of the fast-casual segment."
Miles joined Zoës Kitchen in 2009 as executive vice president of operations and was promoted to president and chief operating officer in 2011.
A true veteran of the industry, Miles has led the charge for operations teams across a variety of fast-casual concepts, including La Madeleine French Bakery and Cafe, Baja Fresh Mexican Grill, and Pollo Campero. Miles received a bachelor of science degree from Texas A&M University.
