Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, parent company of T.G.I. Friday's restaurants, recently announced two executive promotions, naming John Neitzel President and COO of T.G.I. Friday's USA and Ricky Richardson Executive Vice President and COO of T.G.I. Friday's International.

Neitzel will be responsible for overall execution and restaurant operating performance for the Friday's® USA brand, which includes more than 600 company and franchise restaurants. Neitzel, with over 25 years of experience with the T.G.I. Friday's brand, has held several leadership positions including vice president of strategic operations, divisional vice president of operations, senior vice president of operations for T.G.I. Friday's USA and most recently president and COO of the international business.

Richardson will be responsible for all business aspects for T.G.I. Friday's International, which consists of more than 310 restaurants in 61 countries. Since joining the company in 1995, Richardson has held various leadership positions including vice president of international operations and managing director of T.G.I. Friday's UK, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide's largest acquisition.

Both Neitzel and Richardson will report to the president and CEO of Carlson Restaurants Worldwide.