El Pollo Loco COO Miguel Lozano is retiring, though he’s likely sticking around for a bit.
Lozano, who joined the 481-unit fire-grilled chicken chain in 2019 after more than 26 years with Starbucks, will leave his post three weeks after a new chief operating officer starts at El Pollo Loco or on Nov. 22, whichever comes first, according to a financial filing earlier this month.
Lozano has been “considering whether and under what circumstances he may retire from the company,” the filing said.
Before joining El Pollo Loco, Lozano spent nearly 16 years as director of operations for more than 100 Starbucks stores in Orange County, Calif., and later worked for more than a decade as vice president of operations for Starbucks in the greater Los Angeles area.
Before coming to Starbucks, though, Lozano worked for El Pollo Loco for six years, starting as a general manager and moving up to area leader.
El Pollo Loco has been undergoing some significant changes to its executive ranks.
Earlier this month, former Habit Burger Grill CFO Ira Fils took the top finance post at the chicken brand.
Former El Pollo Loco CFO Larry Roberts became the chain’s president and CEO in March following the resignation of Bernard Acoca to lead Zaxby’s.
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