Jim Mazany, CEO, P.F. Chang’s

Making waves

In Focus

NAME:Jim Mazany

COMPANY:P.F. Chang’s

POSITION:CEO

Words Michael Wayne

Produced by Tracey-Lee Gradidge

5-min read

After 35 years in the restaurant industry, Jim Mazany knows a thing or two about turning brands around. Now as CEO of P.F. Chang’s, he’s bringing fresh energy, bold ideas and a people-first philosophy to an iconic global name.

AI-generated summary

In late 2025, Jim Mazany took the helm as CEO of P.F.
Chang’s, bringing over 35 years of experience in the polished casual restaurant industry.
Tasked with revitalizing the global Asian fusion chain, Mazany focuses on a people-centric culture, operational stability, and strategic growth.
By emphasizing authentic brand storytelling and innovation—such as the popular, highly visual sushi boat—he aims to expand the company's international footprint.
Mazany, known as a 'turnaround specialist,' leverages data-driven insights and community outreach to re-energize the team, improve guest satisfaction, and restore the brand’s competitive position in the global dining market.

Like many restaurant chains with a name in them, you’ll have a tough time tracking down P.F. Chang. That’s because the popular Asian fusion chain got its name from two people: founders Philip Chiang and Paul Fleming.

This group effort has turned P.F. Chang’s into a global success story, with its modern blend of bistro dining and entertainment available across 23 countries. But like any restaurant worth its salt, the company is not content to stop there.

That’s why in late 2025, P.F. Chang’s brought Jim Mazany in as its new CEO and tasked him to usher in a new phase of growth, innovation and global expansion.

“I’m unique. I’ve been in the restaurant industry for about 35 years and mostly in polished casual brands,” he tells The CEO Magazine. “I’ve been very specialized in what I’ve done and very fortunate to be involved with some iconic brands.”

That involves playing the part of what Mazany calls a ‘turnaround specialist’, helping a brand find its way and rediscover its DNA.

“I’m usually brought in to revitalize the culture, re-energize the team, reposition and get them from being not really sure where they’re going to where they need to be in order to be successful in the restaurant space,” he adds.

People first

A summer job a lifetime ago got Mazany started in the industry, diverting him from a promising career in law.

“That summer never ended and that’s where I am today,” he says.

“You have to start with the right people and make sure everything you do is people-centric.”

It means that the new CEO of P.F. Chang’s has the distinct advantage of having washed dishes to make ends meet, something he hasn’t forgotten.

“When I visit restaurants, I always take the time to meet every team member who works for us,” he says. “I’ve always had the competitive advantage of being able to meet folks and understand what motivates them.

“I think that gives me an edge over what other execs may have.”

Starting from scratch has also imbued Mazany with a fearlessness when it comes to making mistakes.

“If a restaurant brand or a company went away tomorrow, what would be missed most? What were they best at? I always try to work that out using data, to understand the essence of what makes a brand work, and then determine what we can be the best at in the world tomorrow,” he reveals.

To do so means taking on significant challenges without fear of failure or, in some cases, failing forward.

“The COVID-19 pandemic was a very tough time for the industry, but I was able to take two companies through that period,” Mazany recalls. “Neither had a lot of money in the bank, but both came out of 2020 in a much stronger position: explosive performance sales growth as well as profitability growth.”

It is, in a way, the mark of a great restaurant: a crisis bringing out the best in people.

“But to make that work, you have to start with the right people and make sure everything you do is people-centric,” he says. “That’s what really makes for a significant positive culture for a restaurant.”

Reinventing an icon

P.F. Chang’s is a few years shy of Mazany’s industry tenure, having started in 1993. But he says its story is just as rich and evident at every P.F. Chang’s location.

“It started as one restaurant in Scottsdale, Arizona, and now you go to any location and everything tells a story,” he says.

“From the horses outside to the warriors located around the interior, everything is meaningful and has an opportunity to create memories.”

“We got back to basics, focused within our restaurants and really listened to guests.”

The CEO role was, in Mazany’s eyes, an opportunity to take an iconic brand to new heights.

“I’m a historian of the industry and I was instantly excited by the chance,” he says. “P.F. Chang’s is authentic. What we do in our kitchens was taught 2,000 years ago. Simplistic yet complicated as to how you bring fresh ingredients to life and the bold flavors we create. It’s a perfect place to be.”

And that’s a sentiment Mazany believes many around the world will share – once he reaches them.

“Great partners make great work possible, and P.F. Chang’s is one of the best. They’re bold, collaborative and deeply committed to the guest experience. Our teams work hand in hand to turn big ideas into real results for the brand. Under Jim Mazany’s leadership, we look forward to building on that momentum and driving continued growth together.” – Brian Purdy, Senior Advisor, Audacy

“We have this worldwide proposition,” he enthuses. “We could double, if not triple, our footprint in the world. There’s a great opportunity for growth ahead.”

But first, Mazany had to stabilize the company.

“I was their third CEO in two years. There wasn’t a stability in messaging or strategy because they’d changed so often. Lots of stops and starts,” he explains.

“So I had to build credibility within the team by laying out a plan of what the expectations were. It was a guest-led recovery driven by team members believing in the brand.”

Creative energy

Mazany and his team have combated public apathy by creating energy within the brand, a reason for guests to come back to the restaurant if it’s been a while.

“That meant bold decisions and a solid marketing team,” he says. “We got back to basics, focused within our restaurants and really listened to guests.”

For instance, guests delight in the sushi boat, served in a smoking cloud of dry ice.

“We highlighted our sushi by presenting it in a fun new way. Logistically, it was a challenge, but I was very tough minded,” he says with a laugh. “I’d seen children light up at the sight of it. It was the most Instagrammed menu item we’ve had.”

“Really great, authentic feel-good moments aren’t just another check mark on a corporate list.”

Contributing to the renewal is an alliance of media and marketing partners including Audacy, which has helped gather community feedback so vital to Mazany’s vision.

“And then we’ve done big events, like National Fortune Cookie Day, and for us that meant community outreach. We went to over 1,300 locations, from nursing homes to fire stations, and gave out fortune cookies or helped people in need, as well as donated to the Starlight Children’s Foundation,” he says.

Mazany’s first year as the CEO of P.F. Chang’s has been full of proud moments and doubtless there are many more to come. But he says this one was among the greatest.

“When I saw the social content, I was in tears,” he says. “Really great, authentic feel-good moments aren’t just another check mark on a corporate list, they’re central to what the brand is and you see that shine through.”