Staffing

Former Moe's exec named Yoshinoya US CEO

Former Moe's Southwest Grill exec Jon Gilliam is taking the reins at Yoshinoya U.S. (Photo provided)

June 3, 2021

Former's Moe's Southwest Grill operations executive Jon Gilliam has been named CEO at Yoshinoya Japanese Kitchen U.S., as the brand prepares for rapid growth nationally, according to a news release. Gilliam will guide the brand — one of the world's oldest QSRs — and help streamline operations and enhance menu offerings.

At his former position with Moe's Southwest Grill, Gilliam was vice president of operations and retail technology and spearheaded that brand's tech, design, training and operations modernization. He previously had leadership roles at Jamba, SusieCakes Bakery and Starbucks.

At Yoshinoya, he has already started an initiative to test a new kitchen layout to increase throughput and enhance the guest experience.

"Yoshinoya is a strong brand with a devoted fan base and mouthwatering menu items, made from high-quality ingredients and cooked with care in our kitchens daily," Gilliam said in the release. "Building on the company's rebranding initiative and establishment of off-premise sales channels, I look forward to leading it's continued evolution, while staying true to our rich Japanese heritage."

Yoshinoya Japanese Kitchen dates back to 1899 when the first restaurant opened in Tokyo. Today it has more than 2,000 locations worldwide, including more than 100 in California. The brand's global headquarters are in Tokyo and U.S. operations are based in Torrance, California.