El Pollo Loco appoints Robert D. Wright and Tana Davila to its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026.
Quiver AI Summary
El Pollo Loco has announced the appointment of Robert D. Wright, CEO of Potbelly Sandwich Works, and Tana Davila, Chief Marketing Officer of Dutch Bros Coffee, as independent members of its Board of Directors, effective January 1, 2026. Both bring extensive experience in the restaurant industry, with Wright noted for his successful expansion efforts at Potbelly and Davila recognized for enhancing brand growth at Dutch Bros. Their addition comes as current board members William “Bill” Floyd and Samuel Borgese retire, with Douglas Babb, a board member since 2018, taking over as Chairperson. The company aims to leverage this new leadership to strengthen its growth and maximize shareholder value while building on its reputation as a leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant.
Potential Positives
- The appointment of Robert D. Wright and Tana Davila to the Board of Directors adds significant restaurant industry expertise, which could positively impact growth and strategic direction.
- Davila’s experience in enhancing brand recognition and driving sales growth at Dutch Bros Coffee indicates potential for elevated marketing strategies at El Pollo Loco.
- The leadership transition in the Board, including the appointment of Douglas Babb as Chairperson, represents a commitment to continuous improvement and could reinforce investor confidence in the company's direction.
Potential Negatives
- Change in Board leadership with the retirement of two directors may indicate potential instability or changes in strategic direction.
- The announcement of new Board members follows the previous leadership's exit, which may raise concerns about continuity and organizational cohesion.
- The strong reliance on the experience of new appointees may suggest a lack of internal talent development within the company.
FAQ
Who are the new board members of El Pollo Loco?
The new board members are Robert D. Wright and Tana Davila, effective January 1, 2026.
What roles do the new board members hold?
Mr. Wright is the CEO of Potbelly Sandwich Works, and Ms. Davila is the Chief Marketing Officer of Dutch Bros Coffee.
What changes are happening in El Pollo Loco's Board of Directors?
Bill Floyd and Samuel Borgese are retiring, with Douglas Babb appointed as the new Chairperson of the Board.
What experience do the new board members bring?
Both members have significant restaurant industry experience and a proven track record of scaling brands successfully.
How many restaurants does El Pollo Loco currently operate?
El Pollo Loco operates over 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants across several states in the U.S.
Disclaimer: This is an AI-generated summary of a press release distributed by GlobeNewswire. The model used to summarize this release may make mistakes. See the full release here.
$LOCO Revenue
$LOCO had revenues of $121.5M in Q3 2025. This is an increase of 0.93% from the same period in the prior year.
You can track LOCO financials on Quiver Quantitative's LOCO stock page.
$LOCO Hedge Fund Activity
We have seen 60 institutional investors add shares of $LOCO stock to their portfolio, and 84 decrease their positions in their most recent quarter.
Here are some of the largest recent moves:
- PORTOLAN CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC removed 751,012 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $7,284,816
- GOLDMAN SACHS GROUP INC added 476,354 shares (+813.4%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $4,620,633
- DIVISADERO STREET CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LP removed 393,437 shares (-32.0%) from their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $3,816,338
- TIETON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT, LLC added 223,209 shares (+35.4%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $2,165,127
- TWO SIGMA INVESTMENTS, LP added 190,015 shares (+788.2%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $1,843,145
- MILLENNIUM MANAGEMENT LLC removed 179,931 shares (-100.0%) from their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $1,745,330
- ARCHON CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC added 140,490 shares (+inf%) to their portfolio in Q3 2025, for an estimated $1,362,753
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Full Release
COSTA MESA, Calif., Dec. 15, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ: LOCO), the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant, announced today the appointment of Robert D. Wright and Tana Davila as independent members of its Board of Directors (“Board”), effective January 1, 2026. Mr. Wright is the CEO of Potbelly Sandwich Works, and Ms. Davila is the Chief Marketing Officer of Dutch Bros Coffee.
“I am thrilled to have Bob and Tana join our Board,” said Liz Williams, CEO, El Pollo Loco. “We believe that their significant restaurant industry experience will serve us well as we grow El Pollo Loco in our existing markets and across the country.”
Mr. Wright joined Potbelly in 2020. Under his leadership, Potbelly successfully expanded their footprint and developed one of the fastest-growing digital platforms in the restaurant industry. His efforts culminated in a successful acquisition of Potbelly by RaceTrac in 2025. Prior to joining Potbelly, Mr. Wright held senior roles at The Wendy’s Company, Charley’s Philly Steaks, Checker’s Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. and Domino’s Pizza, Inc.
Ms. Davila joined Dutch Bros Coffee in 2023 and has been instrumental in driving brand recognition, customer affinity, and consistent sales growth, all while rapidly expanding the brand’s footprint across the United States. Prior to joining Dutch Bros Coffee, Ms. Davila held Chief Marketing Officer roles at CKE Restaurant Holdings, Inc. and P.F. Chang’s, as well as marketing leadership roles at Bimbo Bakeries USA.
In connection with the appointments of Mr. Wright and Ms. Davila, William “Bill” Floyd and Samuel Borgese have each announced their retirements from the Board, effective December 31, 2025. Mr. Floyd will also step down from his position as Chairperson of the board concurrently with his retirement. The Board has unanimously elected Douglas Babb, a member of the Board since 2018, to serve as Chairperson of the Board, effective as of the date of Mr. Floyd’s retirement.
“We are grateful for the impact Bill and Sam have had on El Pollo Loco,” said Babb. “Under their leadership and guidance, El Pollo Loco has gotten back to its roots of menu innovation, operational excellence, and new unit growth.”
Prior to joining the Board, Mr. Babb served for seven years as Chief Executive Officer of Cooper Clinic, P.A., a large, multi-specialty, physician-owned clinic. He also served as Executive Vice President, Chief Administrative and Legal Officer, and Secretary of Beverly Enterprises, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare services to the elderly, from 2000 to 2006. Prior to that, Mr. Babb served as Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff and Senior Vice President, Merchandise Business Unit for the Burlington Northern Santa Corporation from 1995 to 2000.
“I’m pleased to welcome Bob and Tana as independent directors to the El Pollo Loco Board,” said Babb. “Both have a proven track record of scaling successful brands nationally and internationally, as well as deep industry experience across the quick-serve and fast-casual sectors.”
With the retirements of Mr. Floyd and Mr. Borgese, independent Board member Deborah Gonzales has been named Chairperson of the Compensation Committee, and independent Board member Joe Taylor has been appointed Chairperson of the Audit Committee, with such changes to become effective upon Mr. Floyd’s and Mr. Borgese’s retirements.
“As we usher in the next chapter of growth for El Pollo Loco, these changes reflect our ongoing commitment to maximize shareholder value,” said Williams. “I would like to thank Bill and Sam for their service, and welcome once again our new members.”
About El Pollo Loco
El Pollo Loco (Nasdaq: LOCO) is the nation's leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant known for its craveable, flavorful, and better-for-you offerings. Named by USA Today 10 Best Reader’s Choice Awards as a “Best Restaurant for Quick, Healthy Food” two years in a row, our menu features innovative meals with Mexican-inspired flavors made daily in our restaurants using quality ingredients. At El Pollo Loco , inclusivity is at the heart of our culture. Our community of over 4,000 employees reflects our commitment to creating a workplace where everyone has a seat at our table. Since opening our first U.S. restaurant in 1980, El Pollo Loco has expanded to more than 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants across Arizona, California, Colorado, Louisiana, Nevada, Texas, and Utah, with additional locations in development. The company has also extended its footprint internationally, with licensed restaurant locations in the Philippines. For more information or to place an order , visit the Loco Rewards app or ElPolloLoco.com . Follow us on Instagram , TikTok , Facebook , or X .
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to risks and uncertainties. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements appear in a number of places throughout this press release and may include words such as “will,” “should,” “expect,” the negatives thereof and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future events. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those that we expected.
While we believe that the assumptions underlying our forward-looking statements are reasonable, we caution that it is very difficult to predict the impact of known factors, and it is impossible for us to anticipate all factors that could affect our actual results. All forward-looking statements are expressly qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements. You should evaluate all forward-looking statements made in this press release in the context of the risks and uncertainties that could cause outcomes to differ materially from our expectations. These factors include, but are not limited to: economic, social or business conditions that may affect the desire or ability of our customers to purchase our products; our ability to open new restaurants and compete successfully with other quick-service and fast casual restaurants; our ability to attract, develop, assimilate and retain employees; and the other risks set forth in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time, including under Item 1A, Risk Factors in our annual report on Form 10K for the year ended December 2024, as such risk factors may be amended, supplemented or superseded from time to time by other reports we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission, all of which are or will be available online at www.sec.gov .
We caution you that the important factors referenced above may not contain all of the factors that are important to you. In addition, we cannot assure you that we will realize the results or developments we expect or anticipate or, even if substantially realized, that they will result in the consequences we anticipate or affect us or our operations in the ways that we expect. The forward-looking statements included in this press release are made only as of the date hereof. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. If we do update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be made that we will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements. We qualify all of our forward-looking statements by these cautionary statements.
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