Ascent Hospitality Management, the parent of legacy brands Huddle House and Perkins American Food Co., has announced the appointment of Paul Damico as its new CEO, effective immediately. Damico succeeds Jim O’Reilly and joins the company at a pivotal moment as it charts a path of modernization, growth, and brand revitalization.
With more than four decades in the restaurant industry, Damico brings experience from top leadership roles at Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Global Franchise Group, and Focus Brands. His remit includes guiding Ascent’s next chapter: optimizing operations, accelerating franchise development, and exploring new brand acquisitions aligned with the company’s strategic vision.
Under Damico’s leadership, Ascent plans to build on recent initiatives such as the rebrand of Perkins, the launch of a new fast-casual prototype, and the development of non-traditional footprint formats. His track record in multi-brand operations and franchise-driven expansion positions him to steer the company’s portfolio in a competitive marketplace.
For franchisees, the appointment signals a strategic shift, with more emphasis on growth engines, speed-to-market, digital integration, and greater alignment between brand promise and franchise economics. For the broader restaurant sector, it reflects the growing premium on executives who can blend operational discipline with transformative thinking.
