LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Del Taco has announced that Paul J.B. Murphy III has been named the new chairman and CEO of the Mexican quick-serve chain. Murphy will take over this new role in mid-February and will report directly to the company's board of directors.
Nick Shepherd, chairman and CEO of Del Taco's parent company Sagittarius Brands, will be departing in mid-February to become president and CEO of Carrollton, Texas-based Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, Inc., parent company of TGI Friday's and Pick Up Stix.
Murphy has more than 30 years of restaurant experience with a focus on limited-service chains. Most recently, he was president and CEO of publicly held Einstein Noah Restaurant Group where he spent more than 11 years at the chain, serving as president and CEO since 2003. He also has been COO of Gulfstream Bagels, and held operations positions with R&A Food Service, which is a Boston Chicken franchisee, and S & A Restaurants.
Murphy holds a bachelor's degree from Washington and Lee University.
