Smokey Bones Bar & Fire Grill named Ryan Eskoas chairman, president, and chief executive officer for the 66-unit full-service restaurant chain.

Esko joins Smokey Bones from Sun Capital Partners, Inc., the private investment firm whose affiliate owns the company and where he served as principal – performance improvement. Esko's background includes experience running several U.S. and international consumer and retail businesses.

"We are very pleased that Ryan is joining Smokey Bones," said Anthony Polazzi, a member of the Smokey Bones board. "With Ryan now on board, we plan to move quickly to continue our growth plan by adding new stores, completing major remodels, and looking at potential acquisitions."