California Pizza Kitchen Names CEO

California Pizza Kitchen chain of restaurants has named Fred Hipp, former head of Houlihan’s Restaurant Group, as its new president and chief executive. Hipp in January will replace Nick Valenti, who has been acting chief executive since two New York-based investment firms--Furman Selz Investments Inc. and Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherill & Co.--bought controlling interest of Los Angeles-based California Pizza Kitchen from Pepsico in September. California Pizza Kitchen has 80 restaurants in 20 states.