El Pollo Loco Names Douglas Babb Named Chairman Of The Board, Effective January 1

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.