# Rick Rosenfield

> Rick Rosenfield co-founded California Pizza Kitchen with his law partner Larry Flax in Beverly Hills in 1985. A former federal prosecutor and criminal-defense attorney, he helped build CPK into an international restaurant brand and served as co-CEO before its 2011 sale. He later pursued Bottlefish and ROCA Pizza and published The California Pizza Kitchen Story in 2026.

- **Role:** Co-founder and former co-CEO at California Pizza Kitchen; author
- **Organizations:** California Pizza Kitchen, Flax & Rosenfield, U.S. Department of Justice, Bottlefish, ROCA Pizza
- **Education:** University of Illinois, LLB, DePaul University College of Law
- **Known for:** Co-founded CPK and helped bring California-style pizza to a broader casual-dining audience., Built CPK with Flax to more than 260 locations worldwide before their 2011 departure., Developed the ROCK workplace values: Respect, Opportunity, Communication and Kindness.

## Career timeline

- **1969** — Graduated from DePaul University College of Law, which lists him as Richard Rosenfield, LLB 1969.
- **Before 1985** — Worked at the U.S. Department of Justice in Washington, became a federal prosecutor in Los Angeles, and practiced criminal defense with Larry Flax.
- **1985** — Co-founded California Pizza Kitchen in Beverly Hills with Larry Flax.
- **1992** — PepsiCo acquired a controlling interest in CPK.
- **1997** — Bruckmann, Rosser, Sherrill & Co. acquired PepsiCo’s interest.
- **2000** — CPK became a publicly traded company.
- **2003** — Returned to the co-CEO role with Flax.
- **2011** — Golden Gate Capital completed its approximately $470 million acquisition of CPK; the founders subsequently left executive leadership.
- **2016** — Developed Bottlefish in Brentwood with Flax.
- **2021** — Launched the ROCA Pizza concept with his wife Esther, beginning with a Glendale pop-up.
- **2023** — ROCA opened in Pacific Palisades in March and closed later that year.
- **2026** — Published The California Pizza Kitchen Story with Amplify Publishing.

## Achievements

- Co-founded CPK and helped bring California-style pizza to a broader casual-dining audience.
- Built CPK with Flax to more than 260 locations worldwide before their 2011 departure.
- Developed the ROCK workplace values: Respect, Opportunity, Communication and Kindness.
- Authored The California Pizza Kitchen Story: How Two Federal Prosecutors Changed the Way America Eats Pizza.

## Latest updates

- **2026-07** — The California Pizza Kitchen Story was published July 21; Rosenfield appeared on CBS Saturday Morning on July 25.
- **2026-09** — Discussed entrepreneurship, leadership and his partnership with Flax on Thirty Minute Mentors.
- **2026-10** — Discussed menu innovation and company culture with CFE News; scheduled to participate in a live podcast taping at the Florida Restaurant Show in Orlando on October 26, 1:30-3 p.m.

## Links

- Website: https://www.rickrosenfield.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rick-rosenfield-9185933a9
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rickrosenfield/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/rick-rosenfield
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-20