Fundraising Fox

G.J. Hart

Investor

Operating Partner at Fifth Down Capital

Naples, Florida, United States

About

Joined Fifth Down as an Operating Partner in 2025. A restaurant industry executive with nearly four decades of leadership experience, he is Chairman and CEO of SPB Hospitality and Managing Partner of EMERGING Fund, and previously led Red Robin, Torchy's Tacos, California Pizza Kitchen, and Texas Roadhouse. He serves on the boards of Portillo's and Dutch Bros.

LinkedIn ↗

Experience

  1. EMERGINGManaging Directorcurrent2025 — present
  2. Hart to Hart Global AdvisorsChief Executive Officercurrent2025 — present
  3. Red RobinChief Executive Officer2022 — 2025Denver, Colorado, United States
  4. Torchy's TacosChief Executive Officer2018 — 2021Texas, United States
  5. California Pizza KitchenExecutive Chairman/ Chief Executive Officer2011 — 2018
  6. Texas RoadhouseChief Executive Officer2000 — 2011

Shared employers

Also worked at Texas Roadhouse1

McKay GuglemanVenture Scout at Campus Founders Fund

Colleagues at Fifth Down Capital

Alan Swierczynski
Senior Associate at Fifth Down Capital
Alex Dermer
Senior Advisor at Fifth Down Capital
Andrew Spellman
Founder and Managing Partner at Fifth Down Capital
Brian Rowen
President and Managing Partner at Fifth Down Capital
Bryan Stuart
Vice President at Fifth Down Capital
Cam Fordham
Senior Advisor, Venture Partner at Fifth Down Capital
Candace Parker
Senior Advisor at Fifth Down Capital
Chrysa Chin
Senior Advisor, Strategic Relationships at Fifth Down Capital