Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> July 21, 2003

James Evans – Jenny Craig Inc

JAMES P. EVANS is Chief Executive Officer of Jenny Craig, Inc. Throughout his more than 30 years in the hospitality industry, Mr. Evans has consistently fostered strong leadership skills in his colleagues and provided excellent customer service to his guests. His strong work ethic and client-centric philosophy will serve him well in his role as Jenny Craig's Chief Executive Officer, a position he assumed in January 2003. Prior to joining Jenny Craig, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Best Western International, Inc., the world's largest hotel chain with more than 4,000 independently owned and operated hotels and motels in 80 countries. Mr. Evans accepted that senior staff position after having held a series of increasingly responsible roles in the hospitality industry, ranging from property level marketing, sales and management positions to senior corporate staff positions. From 1996 to 1998, Mr. Evans served as Senior Vice President of Operations for the Promus Hotel Corporation and Executive Vice President of Operations for Doubletree Hotels Corporation. The previous 21 years were spent at the Hyatt organization, where he rose from Director of Sales at the Hyatt Regency in Cambridge, Massachusetts, to Senior Vice President Of Sales and Marketing for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts. While at Hyatt, he was named General Manager of the Year and Sales Director of the Year. Mr. Evans received a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Eastern Illinois University. During his career he has received numerous accolades, including the Distinguished Alumni Award from Eastern Illinois University and a Conti Professorship in Hotel Restaurant and Institutional Management from Pennsylvania State University. Additionally, Business Travel News named Mr. Evans one of the '25 Most Influential Executives in the Travel Industry' in both 1991 and 2001. Profile
TWST: Could you start us off with a brief description and history of

Jenny Craig?

Mr. Evans: Jenny Craig, Inc., provides dynamic, safe and effective

weight loss and lasting weight management