Maria Hollandsworth is leaving El Pollo Loco as president and chief operating officer, effective Dec. 26.
Hollandsworth joined the Costa Mesa-based restaurant chain in late 2022, and after only one year as COO, she was named interim CEO until Liz Williams was appointed in March 2024.
Previously, Hollandsworth spent over 20 years with Jack in the Box. Dunkin’ then approached her in 2019 and she was hired as regional vice president of development, construction and operations in charge of the West Coast.
She was one of the recipients of the Business Journal’s Women in Business Awards in 2024.
The filing did not give a reason for Hollandsworth’s exit, nor was a successor named.
El Pollo Loco (Nasdaq: LOCO) is Orange County’s fifth largest restaurant chain ranked by systemwide sales and the chain reached 500 locations this year.
