News

El Pollo Loco names new COO

August 16, 2011

El Pollo Loco Inc. has announced the appointment of Dennis Farrow as chief operating officer. In this role, Farrow oversees operations for the company's 400 restaurants and will activate operational strategies to drive the company's momentum.

Farrow has more than 20 years of restaurant industry expertise. Prior to joining El Pollo Loco, he was chief executive officer of Restaurant Peak Performance LLC, a retail and restaurant consulting firm he founded in 2008. Earlier, Farrow was chief operating officer of IHOP Corp., senior vice president of operations for Wendy's International Inc., and senior director of operations services for Taco Bell Corp.

"Dennis is an operations powerhouse and we are thrilled to have him on our team," said Steve Sather, president and CEO of El Pollo Loco Inc. "He has a proven record of building organizational capability and will be a key driver in fueling El Pollo Loco's momentum as we activate strategies consistent with our long-term business plan."

El Pollo Loco plans to grow the company through a new platform of integrated marketing and menu items that complement the chain's signature flame-grilled chicken, a continued focus on operational excellence and a system-wide restaurant redesign and remodel program.

Farrow is based at El Pollo Loco's headquarters in Costa Mesa, Calif. He holds a bachelor's degree in international affairs from the United States Military Academy, West Point in New York and a master's degree in management administration from the J.L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Illinois.

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