Prominent restaurant chain appoints new CEO

TAMPA — Bloomin’ Brands, which in November last year endured sharp public criticism of its financial performance from a prominent investor, New York-based hedge fund Barington Capital Group, named its CFO, David Deno, to the CEO post. 

Deno joined Bloomin' in 2012, after working in leadership roles at Best Buy and PepsiCo., among other brands, according to a statement. He was executive vice president and chief financial and administrative officer at Bloomin', and he replaces longtime CEO Liz Smith, who will remain with the company, as executive chairwoman. Meanwhile, to fill the void left by Deno’s promotion, Christopher Meyer has been promoted to executive vice president and CFO, according to the statement and a filing with the SEC. The changes become effective April 1.