Haute 100: Michael Mina to Step Down as CEO of Mina Group to Return to the Kitchen

Haute 100 lister and restaurateur Michael Mina has revealed he will be stepping down as CEO of his own company, the Mina Group. The renowned chef has tapped Bill Freeman to fill his shoes. What will Mina do now with his free time? Head back to the kitchen of course.

According to the San Francisco Business Times, stepping down from the CEO position will allow Mina to return to his first love—the kitchen. Freeman will take over the day-to-day operations including helping to provide opportunities and support for the 1,800 employees that work in the Mina Group.

“As we’re growing, things become important like what type of future your employees will have. People have to understand there’s a bigger vision to a business,” Mina said to the San Francisco Business Times. “I found myself working on that so much … and it’s not the best use of my time and skills.”

For those of you unfamiliar with Freeman, he served as CEO of McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood Restaurants and most recently the CEO of Bertucci’s Italian restaurants. Freeman joined the seafood chain in January 2009 and was responsible for 11 different restaurant concepts across 97 locations. At Bertucci’s, Freeman was responsible for more than 90 locations along the East Coast, more specifically the New England area.

In addition to Freeman’s extensive history as a CEO in the restaurant business, he also owns his own eatery. Freeman founded Fox Sports Grill, a bar and restaurant, which provides appetizers, salads and flatbreads, sandwiches and burgers, entrees, desserts, and cocktails. Fox Sports Grill was founded in 2001 and is based in San Diego, California.

Most recently, Mina announced he will be closing Bourbon Steak inside the Westin St. Francis in San Francisco’s Union Square this spring. If you would like to enjoy the culinary masterpiece before it closes you can visit the restaurant, which is located at 335 Powell St., San Francisco in the Westin Saint Francis. Open until Thursday, March 31, 2016. Sunday – Thursday, 5:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. (415) 397-3003.