Zaxby’s is a premium chicken QSR established in Athens, Georgia. Recently, Zaxby’s CEO announced that he was stepping down and transitioning to the company’s chairman. He had served for more than three decades as the leader of the brand. Bernard Acoca was appointed as the next CEO in line.
Bernard Acoca has extensive experience, which he has gained after being the leader of some of the most significant restaurants in the nation. Acoca’s experience will be very helpful in steering the growth of the company, while the involvement of the former CEO will ensure that the guiding principle of the company remains founder-led.
McLeroy, the founder and former CEO of Zaxby’s, said that he was exhilarated by their company’s success over the past three decades. He said that stepping down from the top position and hiring an external chief executive officer was to maximize the opportunities available for the company. Therefore, they set out to search for a CEO who has a strategy and is a marketing expert in the quest to increase the growth of the company toward national recognition.
They were excited to have finally identified Acoca, a leader in the industry. McLeroy notes that he highly believes that their candidate has a high commitment to preserving the heritage and culture of Zaxby’s. The Zaxby’s CEO has over two decades of combined experience as an executive and marketer in the restaurant sector, making him a trusted leader. He was the president and chief executive officer of El Pollo Loco.
During his time there, he was on the frontline in leading the company through a digital e-commerce transformation. Before that, Acoca was a member of the Leadership Team for seven years at Starbucks. He said he was honored to be the first external CEO of such a company. He also looks forward to working with the excellent team at Zaxby’s toward success. See this page for additional information.
Visit his LinkedIn profile on https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernard-acoca-066722/