NEW ALBANY, Ohio — The CEO of Bob Evans Farms is stepping down by mutual agreement after more than eight years in the post as the restaurant operator works on improving its performance.

Steve Davis is also giving up his position as a board member.

Bob Evans Farms said Monday it has created an interim Office of the CEO while it looks for a permanent replacement as CEO. It named Chief Financial Officer Mark Hood and Mike Townsley, president of the Bob Evans Foods division, to the office.

The office is meant to provide ongoing leadership and oversight of the day-to-day operations of the company while the CEO search is performed. Both Hood and Townsley will remain in their current roles while taking on their new responsibilities.

“The independent directors unanimously concluded that as the company strives to improve performance, it would benefit from new leadership and enhanced execution,” Mary Kay Haben, non-executive chair, said in a statement.

Haben was elected as non-executive chair in October. She’s been on the board since 2012.