Adam Fleischman, founder and chair of the Umami Restaurant Group, stepped down as CEO earlier this year to grow another restaurant company called AdVantage Restaurant Partners. His new group just launched a new brand last month named ChocoChicken; a fried chicken meets chocolate concept in downtown Los Angeles. Umami Burger was founded in 2009 in Los Angeles and started as a single store that grew to 22 stores in California in the first five years. The chain is still growing across the USA and by the end of the year is expecting to add units in Chicago, Las Vegas, Irvine,Ca., and Brooklyn, NY. The fast-casual pizza concept, 800 Degrees Neapolitan Pizza, is also owned by Umami Restaurant Group.

Paul Clayton was named last month as the new chief executive of Umami Burger. Flesichman believes his successor “has the vision, expertise and instincts to grow Umami Burger into one of the most creative and forward-thinking restaurant groups in the world.”Clayton has had an impressive career in the food industry including years spent as president of Burger King North America and CEO of Jamba Juice.

To read more about the changes in the restaurant group, click here