Smashburger has selected David Prokupek, its chairman, to also serve as the company's chief executive officer. The company also has expanded its board to include three independent industry leaders who will provide strategic direction and guidance as Smashburger strives to reach its growth goal of more than 100 stores in 2010.
The new board members include Mike Fries, president and CEO of Liberty Global; Steve Schiffman, president and GM of National Geographic Channel; and Brian Rainey, president of Epsilon Targeting.
In addition to his role as Smashburger chairman and CEO, Prokupek serves as managing partner and chief investment officer at Consumer Capital Partners (CCP), a private investment firm focusing on consumer brands and services and Smashburger's primary investor to date.
Prokupek has more than 20 years of experience as a CEO, entrepreneur and investment manager. He has spent most of his career building, financing, and advising high-growth businesses in the consumer, retailing and financial industries. Fries, Rainey and Schiffman join CCP and Smashburger executives on Smashburger's board of directors.
"The members of our board have incredible experience building dynamic brands like Smashburger," Prokupek said in a news release. "The board's stewardship will help guide Smashburger through a period of unprecedented growth and establish it as one of America's great new brands."
