Staffing

California Pizza Kitchen names veteran finance exec as CFO

Photo: File/provided.

December 16, 2020

Following news in late July that it filed for Chapter 11 protection, California Pizza Kitchen has named restaurant finance executive, Judd Tirnauer as its CFO and executive vice president to lead its financial restructuring, a news release said.

Tirnauer was most recently CFO of Black Angus Steakhouse in Sherman Oaks, California, and has 25 years of finance and strategic planning experience, mainly in the restaurant and retail business.

"CPK is proud to welcome Judd to the team," CPK CEO Jim Hyatt, said in the release. "With his proven track record in finance with both public and private equity brands, we are confident in Judd's expertise and ability to lead CPK's financial strategy and build on the Company's business momentum."

Judd previously held executive positions with Real Mex Restaurants and Wet Seal. He also spent 15 years at Destination Maternity Corporation, which operated A Pea in the Pod, Destination Maternity, Motherhood Maternity and Mimi Maternity.

"I'm excited to be joining such an iconic brand and look forward to working with Jim and the executive team on charting CPK's future growth," Tirnauer said in the release.

This summer, CPK entered into a restructuring support agreement with its lenders to equitize much of its debt. This agreement also included $46.8 million in new money debtor-in-possession financing to enable ongoing operation of other CPK restaurants.

The 35-year-old brand has more than 200 restaurants in eight countries and U.S. territories. It is based in California.