Mountain Mike’s Pizza has promoted President and Chief Operating Officer Jim Metevier to chief executive replacing co-owners Ed St. Geme and Chris Britt.
Metevier joined the Newport Beach-based pizzeria chain in 2018 following almost 23 years with Yum Brands Inc. (NYSE: YUM), growing from a general manager to COO of its KFC division, and a one-year stint as president of Biscuitville Fresh Southern.
Britt and St. Geme, the company’s previous co-CEOs, cite Metevier’s leadership for the chain’s 82% growth in total system sales over the past five years and helping Mountain Mike’s locations surpass $1.1 million in average unit volume. The pizzeria also signed agreements to open almost 200 new restaurants and reach four new state markets with Metevier as COO.
“With Jim as our new CEO, Mountain Mike’s is on a path to achieve even more success, and Chris and I look forward to working in lockstep with him in this new role as we elevate the legacy of Mountain Mike’s Pizza and grow strategically throughout the U.S.,” St. Geme said in a statement.
Mountain Mike’s counted 268 restaurants as of last May and expects to reach 300 by mid-2024. The chain reported 2023 system sales grew about 7% approaching $300 million.
