Chief Executive, Cheesecake Factory
David Overton leads The Cheesecake Factory, having built the Calabasas-based concept – founded on his mother Evelyn Overton’s original cheesecake recipes – into a publicly traded restaurant empire. The company’s footprint spans the U.S. and Canada, with 365 locations and a portfolio that includes North Italia, Flower Child and a collection of Fox Restaurant Concepts brands. Under his leadership, the company has sustained its focus on experiential dining and hospitality-forward operations. Fiscal 2025 marked a record for annual revenue, supported by 25 new restaurant openings. The first quarter of fiscal 2026 continued this momentum, delivering comparable sales growth of 1.6% and outperforming the broader casual dining industry.