Staffing

Taco John's taps Mark Kocer as COO

October 13, 2022

Taco John's has hired Mark Kocer has its chief operations officer, according to a press release.

Mark Kocer. Provided.

Kocer will oversee Taco John's day-to-day operations, assist with its expansion plans and technological upgrades, and serve as a mentor to leaders within the brand and franchise system. Kocer brings nearly 30 years of restaurant industry experience and has experience working with large, successful brands such as Arby's, KFC and PepsiCo.

"We are thrilled to add a quality person and leader like Mark to our executive leadership team," Jim Creel, Taco John's president and CEO, said in the press release. "We take pride in the huge connection we have with our guests, and Mark, having grown up with our brand, will help us take that bond to the next level. His knowledge and expertise in various areas of the industry will be an asset to our internal team and franchisees."

Kocer was most recently a division vice president for Arby's, responsible for the management and operations of more than 400 franchised restaurants and almost 300 company-owned ventures across 10 states. Under his leadership, the division generated over $1 billion in sales and was the top-ranked in performance and second in volume last year.

"Working for Taco John's is a dream come true for me, as it's a brand I have always loved and kept up with through the years," Kocer said in the press release. "The opportunity to help the brand keep expanding while making our operations as efficient as possible is a challenge I look forward to meeting."