Denny’s Appoints Chief Operating Officer

Aaron Howard—who has decades of operating leadership across brands including CKE Restaurants and Cracker Barrel—has been named chief operating officer at Denny’s Corp.

He will oversee operations across the Denny’s franchise system, working to strengthen the brand’s field execution, improve the guest experience and drive performance.

“Aaron is an operator,” says Chris Bode, president and CEO of Denny’s. “He understands how performance is created in the field, inside restaurants and through teams that are clear, supported and accountable. His focus will be where performance is won or lost: in the restaurants, with operators and teams, and in the guest experience that brings people back. As we continue to strengthen value, relevance, profitable traffic and restaurant-level profitability, Aaron’s leadership will be critical to how we raise execution across the franchise system.”

Howard joins Denny’s as it advances “Project Grand Slam,” which entails new food innovation, value, catering, third-party growth, facilities modernization, profitable traffic and restaurant execution, according to a press release.