CEC Entertainment Welcomes New Finance Leader

CEC Entertainment, the big name behind Chuck E. Cheese and Peter Piper Pizza, has added a seasoned executive to its top team. Chris Monroe will serve as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, bringing more than three decades of money‑management experience from the restaurant, airline, and defense worlds. Monroe’s career includes a recent role as CFO of Texas Roadhouse, where he ran all financial operations for a $12 billion chain with over 750 outlets. Earlier, he spent time at Southwest Airlines in a senior treasury and sustainability position that handled some of the most intricate financial tasks in U. S. aviation. He also has board experience with an aerospace and defense company, showing his comfort with large, regulated organizations.At CEC, Monroe’s focus will be on fine‑tuning the company’s growth engines. He plans to sharpen membership programs, improve “fun pass” sales, expand active‑play areas, and steer real‑estate projects. His goal is to build a solid financial base that can support the brand’s plans for the next decade. CEC’s CEO, Scott Drake, praised Monroe as a perfect fit for the company’s current phase. He highlighted Monroe’s knack for blending big‑picture financial strategy with data‑driven operational improvements. The CEO said the new hire will help CEC keep investing in its brands, guests, and future. Monroe will work out of the corporate hub in Irving, Texas, where he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Abilene Christian University. On the personal side, he is married to Kim, a partner of nearly 40 years, and together they have two adult children and a little grandson who is already excited about the next Chuck E. Cheese visit.