Company Town : Restaurateur Tapped as HOB Co-Chief Exec

HOB Entertainment, the parent company of the House of Blues, named veteran restaurateur Richard Cervera as its co-chief executive, a title he will share with founder Isaac Tigrett.

Cervera, 38, who was also named president, is expected to focus on the Hollywood company’s core restaurant and music club operations, allowing Tigrett to spend more time on the company’s growing number of entertainment ventures.

Under Tigrett, who was one of the founders of the Hard Rock Cafe chain, House of Blues has recently moved into TV production, with a live music show it produces with Time Warner Inc. for cable channel TBS; added a record label; launched a radio program, and is developing new-media ventures.

Cervera, a native of Cuba who grew up in Washington, most recently was chairman and chief executive of Taco Cabana, a Tex-Mex chain of cafes based in San Antonio.

In a statement, Tigrett said Cervera “brings a keen awareness of the nuances of running a multicultural enterprise.”

* Lauren Lloyd has been promoted to senior vice president of production for Hollywood Pictures.

* Mitch Shultz was appointed vice president of human resources at Walt Disney Studios.

* Keith P. Rowan has been appointed managing director of the newly created global business unit at Rogers & Cowan.