Friendly's CEO Resigns

The chief executive of Friendly's Ice Cream LLC, Harsha Agadi, will resign Friday, although he will remain on the company's board of directors.

Chief operating officer Jim Parrish will act as interim chief executive while the company searches for a permanent replacement, a Friendly's spokesperson confirmed. Friendly's also said its chief marketing officer, Andrea McKenna, would leave the company effective March 2, but did not say who would replace her.

The company did not give a reason for Agadi's or McKenna's departures.

Agadi, the former president and CEO of Church's Chicken, joined Friendly's as chief executive in August 2010, and saw the chain through Chapter 11 bankruptcy and restructuring.

Friendly's filed for bankruptcy protection in October 2011, and emerged in January after closing 100 stores and shedding much of its debt.

The chain currently has 387 restaurants.

EARLIER:

Friendly's exits Ch. 11
Friendly's CEO talks about Ch. 11 filing
Friendly Ice Cream Corp. files for Ch. 11

Contact Bret Thorn at bret.thorn@penton.com.
Follow him on Twitter: @foodwriterdiary