- Push-out Score determined
- After less than four years in the position
- Praise, thanks and good wishes for Acoca
- Larry Roberts taking over temporarily
- Acoca said 67 words
(exechange) — Costa Mesa, California, October 15, 2021 — Bernard Acoca, chief executive of El Pollo Loco, leaves. As announced by El Pollo Loco Inc. in a news release and in a regulatory filing published on Friday, October 15, 2021, Bernard Acoca leaves his post as chief executive officer at the chicken restaurant chain, after less than four years in the role, effective immediately.
Bernard Acoca’s duties as CEO will be taken over temporarily by Laurance (Larry) Roberts, currently Chief Financial Officer at El Pollo Loco Inc., as Interim Chief Executive Officer.
“To pursue other opportunities”
Bernard Acoca’s departure from the CEO post is explained as follows. El Pollo Loco said: “El Pollo Loco, Inc. (“El Pollo Loco” or “the Company”) (Nasdaq: LOCO), the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, today announced the resignation of Bernard Acoca as Director, Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company and its affiliates, to pursue other opportunities, effective today.”
Precise information regarding Bernard Acoca’s future plans was not immediately available.
“Resigned”
El Pollo Loco said: “Bernard Acoca, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer and President and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) on October 11, 2021, effective as of October 15, 2021.”
Share price decline since January 2021
The announcement follows a decline in El Pollo Loco Inc.’s share price of 8% since January 2021.
In the position of CEO since 2018
Bernard Acoca became CEO of the Company in 2018.
Acoca will continue to provide consulting services to the Company to further ensure a smooth transition.
Bernard Acoca has been a director and the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President since March 2018.
Before joining the Company, Acoca spent seven years at Starbucks Corporation (“Starbucks”) in various capacities as a member of its executive team, most recently as President of Teavana, Starbucks’ global tea brand division from 2015 to 2018.
Prior to that, he served as Vice President, Marketing and Promotions, Americas from 2010 to 2012 and as Senior Vice President, Marketing and Category, Americas from 2012 to 2014.
From 2014 to 2015, Acoca served as Chief Marketing Officer for the Americas of L’Oréal S.A. Prior to Starbucks, Acoca was employed by YUM! Brands, Inc., where he held various marketing positions from 2002 to 2010.
As of January 2021, Acoca also serves on the board of directors of Planet Fitness, Inc.
Acoca holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
Push-out Score determined
The Push-out Score™ determined by exechange gauges the pressure surrounding Bernard Acoca’s move on a scale of 0 to 10.
exechange reached out to El Pollo Loco and offered the company the opportunity to comment on the score.
Read the full story in the exechange report 42.2021 ($).