Pollo Tropical Chief Operating Officer, Jim Tunnessen, today announced the appointment of Danny Meisenheimer as Chief Brand Officer (CBO), reporting to him.
Meisenheimer will oversee all strategic marketing, communications, research, and development initiatives for the company and will work closely with Tunnessen to continue to accelerate the successful growth of the organization.
“We have enjoyed 11 consecutive quarters of enviable positive comparable store sales gains,” Tunnessen says. “We must now ready our system for future new market and new franchise expansion. Bringing someone of Danny’s caliber, with senior level operations and marketing experience, will help us meet that challenge.”
“I’m excited to be a part of the Pollo Tropical team as we work to make this company the restaurant of choice for new customers everywhere,” Meisenheimer says.
Before joining Pollo Tropical, Meisenheimer held the positions of chief operating officer and chief brand officer for Souper Salad and Grandy’s restaurant chains, and most recently served as the president of Souper Salad.
Previously, he led the marketing and brand strategies for Dallas-based Pizza Inn, Inc., a publicly traded restaurant chain with more than 300 locations. From 1993 to 2002, he served as vice president of marketing for Furr’s Restaurant Group, another publicly traded chain specializing in family-style dining.
Meisenheimer is a graduate from the University of Oklahoma with a bachelor’s degree in liberal studies. Immediately after college, he managed several print publications and co-founded a Christmas display company. Meisenheimer and his wife Jennifer will be relocating to South Florida with their two school-aged children.
