Captain D's president retiring; replacement named

Seafood chain's parent brings in another restaurant industry veteran to replace Walker

Email | Print By Richard Lawson

After more than two decades running the Captain D's chain, Ron Walker is retiring as president at the end of this month, the chain's parent company Sagittarius Brands Inc. announced today.

David Head, a 32-year restaurant industry veteran, has been hired to replace Walker to oversee the 600-store seafood chain. Early next month, Head will join the parent company's executive committee.

Head previously was president and chief executive officer of Romacorp, the parent company of Tony Roma's. While there, he led a financial restructuring and revitalized the rib, seafood and steak chain's concept over the past three years. Prior to Romacorp, he served as president and CEO of Shells Seafood Restaurants.

Head also has been with Houlihan's Restaurant Group, Sizzler International, Applebee's and Red Robin. He started his career in 1974 as a busboy and rose through the ranks at Marriott and W.R. Grace & Co. dinner house businesses.

Captain D's was founded in Donelson in 1969 as part of Shoney's Inc., taking its initial from Shoney's co-founder Ray Danner. Dallas-based Lone Star Funds bought Shoney's in 2002. Timonium, Md.,-based Grotech Capital Group Inc. and Charlesbank Capital Partners, a Boston private equity firm, formed Sagittarius bought Captain D’s in 2004 for $150 million.

This year, Sagittarius bought the Del Taco chain, which has more than 450 stores in 13 states.