Management Team

Steve Hislop has served as President, Chief Executive Officer and a member of our board of directors since July 2007 and Chairman of the Board since May 2018. From July 2006 through June 2007, Steve was President and Chief Executive Officer of Sam Seltzer Steak House. Prior to that, Steve served as the Concept President and a member of the board of directors of O’Charley’s Restaurants, where he helped grow the business from 12 restaurants to a multi-concept company with 347 restaurants. Steve currently serves on the board of directors of Not Your Average Joe's, Inc. and Silver Diner, Inc., which are privately held companies.

Jon Howie has served as our Chief Financial Officer since August 2011, as our Vice President since April of 2013 and as a member of the Board since May 2018. From March 2007 to July 2011, Jon served as the Chief Financial Officer of Del Frisco’s Restaurant Group, LLC. Prior to that, he served for five years as Controller and was then promoted to Chief Accounting Officer of the Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. Jon is a certified public accountant and prior to joining Lone Star Steakhouse & Saloon, Inc. was employed as an audit senior manager with Grant Thornton, LLP for one year and served at Ernst & Young LLP for 10 years where he held various audit positions, including audit senior manager. At Grant Thornton and Ernst & Young, he served as an accounting and business advisor to both private and public companies and advised a number of these companies in conjunction with their initial and secondary public offerings.

John Korman has served as Chief Operating Officer since October 2023.  Prior to this role, John served as the Company’s Senior Vice President of Operations from June 2023 to October 2023, and as Vice President of Operations from July 2018 to June 2023.  He joined the Company in May 2000 and served as a Manager from May 2000 to June 2005, as a Kitchen Manager from July 2005 to December 2007, as a General Manager from January 2008 to December 2010, as an Area Supervisor from January 2011 to December 2014, and as Director of Operations from January 2015 to June 2018.   

John Mountford has served as Chief Culinary and Procurement Officer since October 2023. Prior to this role, John served as Chief Operating Officer from September 2018 to October 2023, and as Vice President of Culinary Operations from 2016 to August 2018. He joined the Company in 2010 and served as an Area Supervisor of Operations from 2010 to 2013 and as a Director of Culinary Operations from 2013 to 2016. Prior to joining the Company, John was with Sam Seltzers Steak House from 2006 to 2010. He served as President and Chief Executive Officer from 2007 to 2010 and Vice President of Operations from 2006 to 2007. Prior to Sam Seltzers, John served in various operational leadership positions, including Vice President of Culinary Operations for Cooker Bar and Grill, and Director of Culinary Operations for Houston’s Restaurants where he opened over 30 new restaurants.

Michael Hatcher has served as our Vice President of Development since November 2009. Michael joined Chuy's as a restaurant manager in 1987 and was promoted to General Manager from 1989 to 2002. He was Director of Purchasing and Real Estate from 2002 to 2009.