LIZ WILLIAMS
CEO
EL POLLO LOCO
WHY: Joined fast-food chain in March 2024. Tasked with jumpstarting nationwide expansion at Costa Mesa-based El Pollo Loco where sales growth had slowed in the prior five years.
IN THE NEWS: Introduced new store model with reduced building costs to drive unit growth “by becoming flexible and affordable.” With over 500 locations in seven states, aims to expand the chain to the other 43. In November, relocated headquarters within Costa Mesa to new space at 575 Anton Blvd. on the 12th floor—slightly smaller than the 24,890 square feet it leased on Harbor Boulevard.
NOTABLE: Started at Dell and The Boston Consulting Group before turning to the restaurant industry, where she worked at Yum Brands and became president of Taco Bell International. Also jumped between a few private equity-based concepts such as hair salon owner Drybar and actor Kevin Hart’s vegan restaurant chain Hart House.
QUOTABLE: “When I came in here, we weren’t growing in terms of new units. So, we’ve put a lot of things in place to get the pipeline built so that we can grow again.”
