EMERYVILLE, CALIF. — David A. Pace has been named chief executive officer of Jamba, Inc. He succeeds James D. White, who announced his intent to retire last fall once a successor was found.
David A. Pace, new c.e.o. of Jamba, Inc. |
Mr. Pace, who has been a member of Jamba’s board since 2012, most recently was executive vice-president of Bloomin’ Brands and president of the company’s Carrabba’s Italian Grill. Before he oversaw the domestic operations and development of Carrabba’s, Mr. Pace was Bloomin’ Brands’ chief resources officer and was responsible for Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar and Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion, in addition to overseeing the real estate/development and human resources functions. Prior to joining Bloomin’ Brands in 2010, Mr. Pace held executive positions with Starbucks Coffee Co., PepsiCo, Inc. and Yum! Brands, Inc.
“After a comprehensive executive search conducted by the board and aided by The Elliot Group, Dave emerged from a deep pool of highly skilled candidates as the clear choice to serve as Jamba’s next c.e.o.,” said Andrew Heyer, lead independent director of the board. “As a seasoned restaurant professional, Dave brings to Jamba a tremendous amount of experience gained from his time at some of the industry’s top consumer and franchise brands.”
Mr. Pace received a bachelor’s of science degree in industrial and labor relations from Cornell University.
Jamba also announced that Richard L. (Rick) Federico, a member of the board since 2006 and most recently chief executive officer of P.F. Chang’s China Bistro Inc, will assume the role of chairman and remain an independent director on the board.
“Rick’s reputation as one of the most well respected executives in the restaurant industry, along with his intimate knowledge of Jamba’s operations and strategic goals, were instrumental in the board’s unanimous decision to have him serve as the company’s chairman,” Mr. Heyer said.