John Fuller ’85

John Fuller ’85 had quite the start to 2010. In January, he was appointed president and chief executive officer of Johnny Rockets restaurants, the company he joined in 2008 as its chief financial officer.

The company is truly home, Fuller says, because the name Johnny Rockets is synonymous with family-friendly, entertaining experiences, and that also describes the business enterprise. Established in 1986, Johnny Rockets opened its first restaurant on Los Angeles’ iconic Melrose Avenue, and from that single location, the franchise has expanded to 280 restaurants in 11 different countries. Despite the recession, 112 Johnny Rockets locations have opened within the last two-and-a-half years, and the company projects continued growth. Fuller says he is eagerly looking forward to the organization’s 25th anniversary celebrations in 2011.

As the company leader, Fuller says he takes a hands-on approach to his daily work. He strives to foster relationships and communications with each of the restaurant’s franchises, and he keeps an open door and open book policy. He says that Johnny Rockets owes its success to its employees, and he relishes working with “the best and brightest to do what’s best for the entire [company].”

Before joining Johnny Rockets, Fuller worked nine years at the Orange County branch of the accounting firm KPMG.  He also has held upper management positions with Rubio’s, Del Taco and CKE Restaurants, which operates Carl’s Jr., Hardee’s, and Green Burrito. He says that his experiences at these companies taught him how to be more focused on operational finance, rather than “just number crunching,” a skill set that has served him well during his tenure at Johnny Rockets.  

Fuller, a proud Bruin, adds that his UCLA pedigree also has served him well in his career. One member of his staff jokingly calls him J.B. – short for John Bruin. Fuller says he is particularly grateful for Professor David Ravetch’s accounting class. Fuller excelled in the course and credits it with helping him see accounting as fun. (Ravetch continues to serve on the faculty and is the senior lecturer for the UCLA Anderson School.)

Fuller earned his economics degree in 1985, though he jokingly says, “I was hoping to turn it into a 10-year program” due to his love for campus life. As a UCLA student, Fuller he was involved with the Student Accounting Society, which enabled him to network with accounting firms and find employment after graduation.

Fuller is a loyal fan of UCLA sports, especially basketball and football, and he recalls that some of his best student memories are the games where the Bruins beat their cross-town Trojan rivals. He also was able to attend the Bruins’ 1995 NCAA championship win. Even his desktop background boasts his status as a member of the UCLA family, and he says that he loves the credibility and recognition that comes just from the university’s name.

Fuller’s life outside of work is devoted to his two young daughters and unwinding at the beach near his home in San Diego.

Find your nearest Johnny Rockets or see the latest news from Fuller and the company.