American Roadside Burgers has announced that Tom Lewison, former president and COO of Bojangles' Restaurants, has joined its board of directors.
“With over 35 years experience in the food service industry, Tom’s vision and insight will be invaluable to our company,” says Rich LaVecchia, chairman and CEO of American Roadside Burgers, Inc. “We believe his vast experience in growing Bojangles' and Hardee’s will make a major contribution to American Roadside Burgers’ success as we expand this fast-casual burger chain.”
From his first position as an hourly employee at Carl’s Jr. Restaurants, Lewison worked his way through the ranks at CKE Restaurants, ultimately moving to Hardee’s Food Systems as executive vice president of operations after CKE acquired Hardee’s in 1997.
After 22 years with CKE, Tom moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, and became president and chief operating officer of Bojangles’ Restaurants Inc. in 2001. Lewison was instrumental in developing and executing the strategic plan that ultimately led to the turnaround of the Bojangles’ brand.
“Through Tom’s efforts, the shareholders of Bojangles’ realized an above average return on investment upon the sale of the company in 2007,” LaVecchia says. “Having Tom join our team helps us fulfill our expansion goals for the foreseeable future.
American Roadside Burgers has one restaurant in Smithtown, New York, and one restaurant in uptown Charlotte. An additional Charlotte restaurant is slated to open this May in the SouthPark area. American Roadside Burgers’ fourth restaurant is scheduled to open in Columbia, South Carolina, this fall and the fifth in Greenville, South Carolina, by the end of 2012.
