El Pollo Loco Puts its Money on Innovation

El Pollo Loco, Inc. announced today that it has created a new executive management position -- senior vice president of strategy and innovation -- to leverage innovation in the development of new products, processes, and technology, as well as to align resources around the company’s key initiatives.

Filling the newly created position is Joe Stein, who has served as the company’s CFO for more than six years. As senior vice president of strategy and innovation, Stein will encourage and implement innovation across El Pollo Loco and formulate best practices in innovation management, helping to ensure that El Pollo Loco continues to stay on top of consumer and industry trends to maintain its role as a leader in the fast-casual segment.

El Pollo Loco has hired restaurant industry executive Gary Campanaro to fill the senior finance role as CFO. “Today’s challenging business environment, magnified by intense competition in the restaurant industry, demands that we take a thoughtful look at everything we do,” says Steve Carley, president and CEO of El Pollo Loco, Inc. “The changes we have made to our senior management team will help position our brand for continued momentum as the economy comes around."