Staffing

Starbird appoints Greg Levin as CEO

Photo: Starbird

February 10, 2026

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Starbird has appointed former BJ's Restaurants CEO Greg Levin as its new chief executive officer and board member to spearhead the brand's national expansion, the company announced Tuesday.

Levin succeeds founder Aaron Noveshen, who will transition to chairman of the board. Noveshen will remain involved in stewarding the brand's long-term vision and values as the company scales beyond its California roots.

Levin joins the "super-premium" chicken concept following a 19-year tenure at BJ's Restaurants. During his time there, he served as CFO, president and eventually CEO, helping grow the casual dining chain from 45 locations to more than 200 across 31 states. Under his leadership, BJ's annual revenue grew from $140 million to $1.4 billion.

"Having a leader with hands-on experience growing a premium restaurant brand nationwide brings real confidence to our franchise partners, investors and operators," Noveshen said in a statement.

The leadership shuffle comes as Starbird seeks to establish itself as a dominant player in the $34 billion U.S. chicken category. Currently operating 19 locations, the brand has gained industry attention for its "frictionless" service model and chef-driven menu, ranking No. 7 on the 2025 Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list.

Levin said his focus will be on strengthening execution and guest hospitality while maintaining a disciplined approach to growth.

"That foundation, paired with disciplined decision-making, enables sustainable long-term growth for the Starbird brand," Levin said.

The expansion is supported by the Dollarhyde Investment Group and KarpReilly, a consumer-focused private investment firm.

Founded in 2016 by Noveshen through his consulting firm, The Culinary Edge, Starbird specializes in crispy chicken tenders, wings and sandwiches.