Craftworks selects Kumar as new CEO

BROOMFIELD – CraftWorks Restaurants and Breweries Group Inc. on Friday named Srinivas Kumar the company’s new chief executive.

CraftWorks’ main brands include Old Chicago, Gordon Biersch and Rock Bottom in addition to ChopHouse. The company also owns the Walnut Brewery in Boulder. CraftWorks has dual headquarters in Broomfield and Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Kumar, who will be based in Broomfield, replaces interim CEO Dick Rivera, who will remain chairman of the board. He most recently served as head of Luxottica’s Pearle Vision optical retail chain. Also a veteran of the food industry, he has got 20 years experience with Dunkin’ Brands and Baskin-Robbins Worldwide.

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“Kumar is focused, results driven and an innovator,” Rivera said in a press release. “His extensive experience with franchisees is a perfect fit for our business, and we’re thrilled to have him at the head of our executive team.”

Old Chicago has locations in Boulder, Broomfield, Longmont and Superior. Gordon Biersch and ChopHouse each have locations in Boulder. Craftworks also owns the intellectual property rights to the Boulder Beer Inc. microbrewery.

Craftworks, owned by New York private equity firm Centerbridge Capital Partners LP, was created in 2010 when Centerbridge purchased Louisville-based Rock Bottom Restaurants Inc. Rock Bottom was merged with Chattanooga-based Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant Group Inc.

Craftworks moved its Colorado corporate offices in 2012 from Louisville to 8001 Arista Place in Broomfield.