TW appoints Verney prexy at Winchell's

Nation's Restaurant News, March 21, 1988 by Richard Martin

TW appoints Verney prexy at Winchell's

NEW YORK -- TW Services, the food-service conglomerate, has named Denny's Inc. veteran James C. Verney president of WDH Services Inc., the managing partner in loss-plagued Winchell's Donut Houses L.P.

The 700-unit chain is 42 percent-owned by TW through Denny's, its California-based coffee shop subsidiary.

Verney, the veteran operations vice president of another Denny's division, the El Pollo Loco grilled chicken chain, will report to Jerome J. Richardson, TW's president.

Verney, who joined Denny's in 1974 and helped direct El Pollo Loco's growth from 15 units to nearly 100 during the past four years, succeeds Carl E. Hass, who resigned as president of Winchell's last December amidst widespread departures by Denny's and Winchell's executives.

TW bought Denny's last September, and Richardson took personal charge of the company in January upon the resignation of Donald L. Pierce, who was president of Denny's and chairman of Winchell's.

Richardson, TW chief executive Frank Salizzoni, and Verney are joining the board of Winchell's, with Richardson as chairman.

A source at TW said the seating of its officers on Winchell's board signaled TW's intention to retain its controlling stake in the troubled doughnut fleet rather than find a buyer.

However, observers noted that the presence of top TW officers on the board could help expedite a sale of the 40-year-old chain.