VAUGHAN, Ont. -- Cara Operations Ltd. (CARA.TO) says Frank Hennessey will be the restaurant company's new chief executive officer, starting next month.

The company says Hennessey will begin in the top role May 10 as Bill Gregson, who has served as Cara's CEO since October 2013, will retire from the role and become executive chairman of the board.

Hennessey most recently served as CEO of Imvescor Restaurant Group, but spent 11 years of his career at Cara in a variety of executive leadership roles.

He says in a statement that it is exciting to return to the company.

Gregson says in a statement that Hennessey is the ideal restaurant executive to lead the company through its next generation of growth.

Cara's brands include Swiss Chalet, Milestones, Harvey's and Kelsey's.