News

Taco Cabana’s parent company names new CEO

July 20, 2011

Carrols Restaurant Group Inc. has named Timothy Taft as chief executive officer of Fiesta Restaurant Group Inc. effective Aug. 15.

Fiesta Restaurant Group, an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Carrols Restaurant Group, owns and operates the Taco Cabana and Pollo Tropical restaurant businesses.

"Tim Taft is a proven leader in the restaurant industry and brings a broad range of experience and skills to Fiesta," said Alan Vituli, CEO and chairman of Carrols Restaurant Group. "Tim's background as a successful marketer, brand builder and operator in the restaurant industry will provide a great blend of practical knowledge, customer orientation, and team building to our growing Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana restaurant brands."

Taft, age 53, succeeds Vituli as CEO of Fiesta Restaurant Group. Vituli will remain as the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Carrols Restaurant Group and Chairman of the Board of Fiesta Restaurant Group.

Taft has more than 30 years in the restaurant and hospitality industry, having worked his way up from a national account director at a regional advertising agency to become president and COO at Whataburger Inc., headquartered in Corpus Christi, Texas. Most recently, he served as interim CEO of Souper Salad Inc., a San Antonio-based company owned by private equity investors.

Carrols Restaurant Group previously announced that it plans to spin-off Fiesta Restaurant Group as a separate public company by the end of this year. It is also the largest Burger King franchisee based on number of restaurants, with more than 300 units in its portfolio.