Hooters exec back for more

LARGO — Longtime Hooters CEO Rick Akam is back in the chicken wings and sports business, this time with Ker's WingHouse Bar & Grill.

The Largo-based chain named Akam chief operating officer, according to a release. Akam was president and CEO of Hooters of America for 1984 to 2003. He ran a restaurant consulting firm after Hooters, and he was also chief operating officer of Manatee County-based First Watch, a breakfast-brunch-lunch chain.

The company, founded by former Florida Gator and NFL veteran Crawford Ker, also named Jim Humboldt chief financial officer. Humboldt previously worked in executive financial positions for several local companies, including Beef 'O' Brady's, FrankCrum and Kane Furniture Corp.

The hires are part of WingHouse's plan to build the company's brand presence through Florida and nationwide, the release states. “Jim and Rick each have 30-year track records working with some of the most well-known restaurant brands in the industry and will play key roles in driving WingHouse's growth forward,” Ker says in a release. “Backed by our experienced restaurant team and unique approach to casual dining, WingHouse is strongly positioned to expand across the country through both corporate and franchise development.”

WingHouse has 21 locations in Florida, including Bradenton, Palm Harbor, Pinellas Park and St. Petersburg and Tampa. Read more about the company here.