Mohaimina Haque

The CEO Leading a Dining-Chain Turnaround Story for the Ages

When Mohaimina Haque graduated cum laude from the American University Washington College of Law, she could have joined her classmates in climbing the ranks at top law firms. Instead, she forged her own path: In June 2023, she was named CEO of global casual dining chain Tony Roma’s. At the time, the brand was embattled, weighed down by debt and operational inefficiencies. Within just a couple years, Haque staged a complete revival. In 2024 alone, she spearheaded the elimination of all outstanding debts, reduced operational costs by initiating AI adoption, implemented rigorous financial controls, and increased system-wide sales by 18% year-over-year, ultimately restoring profitability. It’s no wonder, then, that Tony Roma’s placed second in the restaurants and food service category of Newsweek’s 2025 Excellence Index, ranking just behind Starbucks.

By Laura Entis