“I have known Gene Baldwin for over 25 years. I regard Gene as one of the top executives in the restaurant business. His financial background, common sense approach to restaurant management, and laser focus on cost containment has uniquely served the restaurant companies that he has worked for and the clients that he has represented. Gene’s white paper, Seven Cardinal Virtues of Restaurant Management, is a must read for any restaurant management team or investor contemplating a restaurant investment. Gene is definitely the person that I would call to get a restaurant company back on track.”
– John Hamburger
President Franchise Times
Mr. Baldwin has successfully served as chief executive officer (CEO), chief financial officer (CFO), chief operating officer (COO) and chief restructuring officer (CRO), and acted as an advisor for numerous companies in many industries.
His leadership and experience have enabled companies to develop and implement effective restructuring plans, drive efficiencies, reduce costs and significantly improve operating results.
Currently, he serves on the Board of Directors of Redstone American Grill and on the Advisory Board of Piccadilly Cafeterias. Mr. Baldwin is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), and a Certified Turnaround Professional (CTP). He has been a speaker at restaurant industry and professional conferences and is also the author of numerous articles about operational and financial management of multi-unit retail businesses.
Gene Baldwin has more than 35 years of accounting, finance, senior management and advisory experience. He is a proven business leader with a well-established reputation for his ability to assess, develop and implement operational initiatives that enhance enterprise value for stakeholders.
Mr. Baldwin’s recent experience includes being Director in Deloitte’s Restaurant Consulting practice, focusing on turnarounds and restructurings. He has primarily centered on profit improvement and restructuring assignments in the restaurant industry, including:
- Interim CRO and CFO for Real Mex restaurants, a privately held 129 unit Mexican chain
- Interim CEO for Fazoli’s, a 325 unit privately held quick service Italian chain.
- Interim CFO for Benihana, a 100 unit publicly held Japanese-themed chain.
- Interim President & CRO for American Restaurant Group, privately held 82-unit steakhouse chain.
- CFO for a 130-unit fast food franchisee of Pizza Hut, Long John Silver’s and Grandy’s.
- At least 25 other advisory assignments in the restaurant industry representing restaurant owners, lenders, landlords, franchisees, franchisors and unsecured creditors committees