Ascent Hospitality Management has hired Bob Campbell to serve as brand president at Huddle House.
Campbell has over 25 years of experience in the casual dining space, according to an emailed press release announcing his hiring. He began his restaurant career at Taco Mac as a franchisee in 1997. He opened his first restaurant in Alpharetta, Georgia, later adding three more locations.
Campbell also partnered with Taco Mac’s founder to create Tappan Street Restaurant Group, where Campbell became CEO, and helped scale the business to over 30 restaurants. He served as chairman of the Georgia Restaurant Association and was on Taco Mac’s board until it sold itself to Fresh Hospitality in 2017, before operating other restaurants in the Atlanta area.
In his new role, he will help fuel Huddle House’s next phase of growth and work alongside recently named Ascent Hospitality Management CEO Paul Damico.
“[Campbell’s] deep expertise in multi-unit operations, brand strategy, culture stewardship, and growth planning, combined with his passion for developing high-performing teams, will be instrumental as we guide this iconic family-dining brand into its next chapter of sustained growth and success,” Damico said in a statement.
Huddle House has increased its focus on franchised growth in recent years, signing its then-biggest deal, a 20-store commitment in Texas, in 2024. Last year, Huddle House developed new store prototypes, including a QSR conversion with a drive-thru and walk-up ordering window, and a prototype that is 500 to 1,200 square feet designed for non-traditional spaces like airports. The brand continues to offer a traditional restaurant prototype that is suited for small town locations.
Ascent Hospitality also named a new brand president for Huddle House’s sister brand Perkins American Food Co. with the appointment of Matt Carpenter late last year.
