Charlotte, N.C. — Firebirds Wood Fired Grill has named restaurant industry veteran Jeff Uttz as its new chief financial officer, effective May 18, 2026. This comes as Firebirds continues to grow across the U.S. In addition to its current system footprint of nearly 70 restaurants, the company plans to open seven new locations in 2026, which includes its anticipated entrance into the Lexington, Ky., market — its first restaurant in the state.
“We are thrilled to welcome Jeff Uttz to the Firebirds family,” says Steve Kislow, chief executive officer of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill. “His extensive experience guiding high-growth restaurant companies through critical expansion phases, combined with his deep expertise in cross-functional collaboration, makes him the perfect addition to our executive team. As we continue to strengthen our leadership position in the polished casual dining segment, Jeff’s strategic vision and proven ability to develop and lead high performing finance organizations will be invaluable. We look forward to his contributions as we write the next chapter of growth for Firebirds.”
Uttz most recently served as chief financial officer of Kura Sushi, a technology-enabled revolving sushi concept. Previously, he was CFO for Shake Shack Inc. Additionally, Uttz served as executive vice president and chief financial officer of Yard House USA, Inc., where he facilitated the successful acquisition of Yard House by Darden Restaurants, Inc. He has also held financial leadership positions at CKE Restaurants Inc.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill is a privately owned polished casual American restaurant concept offering an energetic twist on the traditional grill. For more information, visit www.firebirdsrestaurants.com.
SOURCE: Firebirds Wood Fired Grill