Vice Chair of the Board, 2012

Phil Hickey Download high-resolution photo

Phil Hickey

Phil Hickey currently serves as Chairman of the Board of O’Charley’s, Inc., a multi-concept public restaurant company based in Nashville, Tenn. Phil served as Chairman of the Board/Chief Executive Officer of RARE Hospitality International, Inc., until October 2007, at which time RARE Hospitality was acquired by Darden Restaurants, Inc. RARE Hospitality was an Atlanta-based restaurant company whose concepts included LongHorn Steakhouse and the award-winning Capital Grille. RARE operated more than 300 restaurants, employed more than 20,000 people, and served more than 55 million guests per year. From 1997 to 2007, Phil and his team grew RARE Hospitality’s market capitalization from $90 million to $1.3 billion.

As a veteran of more than 35 years in the industry, Phil Hickey has experienced the restaurant business from many perspectives. In addition to his roles at O’Charley’s and RARE, he has been a single restaurant owner-operator; has co-founded a restaurant company and taken it public; and grew a concept from six restaurants to 50 restaurants.

In 2002, Phil was named “Restaurateur of the Year” by the Georgia Hospitality and Travel Association, and in 2004, he was inducted into the “Wall of Fame” at the Michigan State University School of Hospitality Business. In 2005, he received the Golden Chain Award from Nation’s Restaurant News, as well as the “Chain Leadership Award” from Chain Leader Magazine. In 2006, he received the Elliott Motivator of the Year Award, and he also received the People Report 2008 Legacy Award.

Phil received a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Business from Michigan State University and has served as an adjunct instructor at the Massey Business School at Belmont University. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of the National Restaurant Association, the Board of Directors of the Hospitality Business School at Michigan State, and has served on the Board of Directors of the Atlanta Convention & Visitors Bureau, Hemisphere, Inc., the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, and the Georgia Tourism Foundation.

A frequent guest lecturer at colleges and universities, Phil Hickey is co-author of the book, “Managing Service in Food and Beverage Operations.” He is a founding board member of the YMCA Community Action Project, an active member of the World Presidents’ Organization, and recently served as Chairman of the Board of Councilors for the Jimmy Carter Center in Atlanta.

Phil currently operates a nationwide consulting practice specializing in the hospitality industry. He lives in Santa Rosa Beach, Fla., with his wife, Reedy.

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