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Fiesta Restaurant Group names former Panera exec as SVP, general counsel, corporate secretary

December 17, 2018

Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc., parent company of Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana, has appointed Louis DiPietro as its SVP, general counsel and corporate secretary, replacing Maria Mayer, who has left the company, according to a company press release. 

"The leadership team and I are delighted to have Lou join Fiesta, Fiesta President and CEO Richard Stockinger said in the release. "His background, experience and accomplishments, especially as the former senior vice president and general counsel at Panera Bread Company, will be extremely valuable as we continue to implement our strategic growth plans. Lou has over a decade of relevant industry experience that I am confident will serve the company well as we set course for future growth and build long-term shareholder value."

During DiPietro's 12-year career at Panera, he held several roles of increasing responsibility in the legal department, according to the release. Prior to joining Panera, he held a variety of legal positions including general counsel for Mainspring Communications, a publicly traded management consulting firm, until it was acquired by IBM. 

Based in Dallas,  Fiesta operates 321 company restaurants (150 Pollo, 171 Taco), but has 30 franchised Pollo Tropical and eight Taco Cabana units.