STRATEGIC PARTNERS
May 3, 2016
El Pollo Loco had hired John Dawson, former president and CEO of The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, as its chief development officer. He is responsible for all aspects of the brand's restaurant development program, including market planning, franchise sales, real estate and construction for both franchise and company restaurants, according to a company press release.
"It's a very exciting time for El Pollo Loco and we're thrilled to have John join our executive team as he brings a broad base of experience to this role," said Steve Sather, president and CEO of El Pollo Loco. "He has helped several high-profile brands achieve meaningful growth and we look forward to the many contributions he will make as part of our team. We are confident that he is the right person to lead the strategic development of new markets and help us further penetrate our existing markets."
During his tenure at The Coffee Bean, Dawson was responsible for the brand's more than 900 locations in 24 countries. Prior to that role, Dawson spent eight years at Dunkin' Brands, where he held various leadership positions, ultimately serving as the global development officer. In that role, he crafted, implemented, and executed an aggressive growth strategy for Dunkin' Donuts and led the day-to-day operations of franchising, development, and construction, according to the release. Prior to joining Dunkin' Brands, Dawson served as FP of Worldwide Restaurant Development at McDonald's Corporation, responsible for setting the strategic direction for McDonald's global development
"It is with great enthusiasm that I take on the role of chief development officer at El Pollo Loco," Dawson said. "I have always been impressed with the iconic status of this Southern California favorite and see tremendous growth potential ahead. It's exciting to be a part of this dedicated team, focused on driving growth within our current markets as well as forging new territories ahead."
