Del Taco Restaurants, Inc., operating restaurants under the name Del Taco, announced that John D. Cappasola, Jr. was promoted to President and Chief Brand Officer. In his new role, Cappasola will lead the company’s brand strategy, marketing, menu development, culinary innovation, and restaurant operations and support. He will continue to report directly to Chief Executive Officer Paul J.B. Murphy, III.

“I’m pleased to announce John’s well-deserved promotion to President and Chief Brand Officer,” says Paul J.B. Murphy, III. “John is a strong leader and talented executive who has been instrumental in the development and execution of our Combined Solutions strategy, which has led to some of the best results in the restaurant category over the past several years. Under John’s leadership we’ve repositioned Del Taco, significantly enhanced the menu and our food, and fostered a culture of partnership and collaboration among our people and franchisees to dramatically improve the guest experience. This move reflects a natural evolution of John’s leadership and his impressive track record of achievement. His expanded leadership role will be critical to optimize cross-departmental performance as we execute our long-term growth strategy. I am confident that in his new position, the already strong alignment of the restaurant experience and our brand promise will only grow to new heights.”

“I am grateful to Paul and the Del Taco leadership team for this incredible opportunity,” says Cappasola. “Over the past several years we have been on a journey to develop Del Taco into a [quick service]-plus leader and we have made great strides in accomplishing our goals. I look forward to continuing this important work with the talented people across Del Taco. Together we will continue our drive to be among the category leaders in execution and give our guests great brand experiences.”

Before his promotion, Cappasola had served as Executive Vice President and Chief Brand Officer, leading Del Taco’s efforts in brand strategy, marketing, menu development, operations support and culinary innovation. In addition to his accomplished Del Taco tenure, Cappasola previously served in key leadership roles at Blockbuster, Inc., holding positions in marketing, strategic development, and operations across a 16-year tenure.

Employee Management, Fast Casual, News, Del Taco