Pajo Bruich

President

Pajo Bruich is an accomplished hospitality executive and President of Cushman Concepts, where he leads the company’s strategic growth, operational excellence, and innovation across its portfolio. With a foundation in fine dining and a career spanning both culinary and executive leadership, Pajo brings a rare depth of experience to the role. Earlier in his career, Pajo served as Executive Chef for many fine dining restaurants, including the MINA Group under Chef Michael Mina at the historic St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco’s Union Square. During his tenure, he led the kitchen to earn Michelin BIB Gourmand recognition, solidifying his reputation for culinary excellence and team leadership at the highest level.

His transition into multi-unit operations and executive management included leadership roles at Tacolicious (rising to Chief Operating Officer), Yardbird Group, and Guckenheimer at Google, where he oversaw 300+ global food venues and scaled daily meal production from 30,000 to 150,000.

In 2022, Pajo was appointed to the Board of Directors for the California Restaurant Association. He is known for his ability to bridge creative vision with operational discipline, building strong teams and shaping brands poised for lasting impact.