Rusty Pelican Names President

SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO — A former executive of Rusty Pelican Restaurants Inc. has come home to roost as the seafood restaurant chain’s president and chief executive officer.

Greg Dollarhyde, 37, is leaving his position as a Pizza Hut Inc. vice president to return to Rusty Pelican, where he worked as chief financial officer until 1987.

He replaces Randy Howatt, a 21-year executive at Rusty Pelican, who has resigned to start a new restaurant venture. As president since 1982, Howatt is credited with helping to build Rusty Pelican into one of the nation’s most successful seafood restaurant chains.

“Randy is an able executive with strong entrepreneurial skills and drive,” Dollarhyde said of Howatt in a statement.

Mike Moorhead, Rusty Pelican’s vice president of marketing, said Dollarhyde rejoins the company as it continues to expand. The restaurant chain has 35 locations in 10 states, including Brea, Newport Beach, Irvine and Long Beach.

He said Dollarhyde, who was vice president for new concept development at Pizza Hut in Wichita, Kan., has a strong background in acquisitions as well as finance and operations.

Dollarhyde was traveling Wednesday and could not be reached for comment.