Church’s Texas Chicken on Friday said that it has promoted Chief Operations Officer Roland Gonzalez to CEO.
He takes over for Joe Guith, who had been CEO since 2022.
Gonzalez has extensive experience in the industry, having overseen operations since coming to Church's in 2023. He previously worked with the virtual brand company Virtual Dining Concepts and before that worked with fast-food operator Restaurant Brands International, where he worked for Burger King, Tim Hortons and Popeyes.
Anand Gowda, founder of Church’s owner High Bluff Capital Partners, said in a statement that the chain’s priority is to “significantly accelerate our momentum” as it strives to reach $2 billion in system sales.
Church’s said that it generated $1.5 billion in global system sales last year. The chain has 1,500 locations in 26 countries. The brand is known as Texas Chicken outside the U.S.
Gowda called Gonzalez “a visionary leader who already has had a tremendous impact on Church’s transformation as COO.”
Gonzalez said that Church’s is a “great brand at a critical inflection point in our growth journey” and cited its “rich history of quality, bold flavor, and being truly invested in the communities we serve.”
Roland Gonzalez | Church's Texas Chicken
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