Leadership

Fiesta Restaurant Group hires industry vet for CFO post

Dirk Montgomery has served as chief financial officer for Hooters International and Bloomin’ Brands.
Photograph: Shutterstock

Fiesta Restaurant Group, the parent company of Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana, has hired an industry veteran as its CFO.

Dirk Montgomery, who begins his new role Sept. 9, most recently was chief financial officer of Hooters International and previously held the post for Bloomin’ Brands.

“Dirk is a uniquely qualified individual and seasoned leader who brings to us an impressive track record of strengthening organizations and driving value through strategic focus, operational improvement, and talent development,” Richard Stockinger, Fiesta’s president and CEO, said in a statement. “His impressive resume includes leadership roles at a variety of public and private companies, and he has extensive experience in strategy, supply chain management, field operations, and capital markets transactions.”

Fast-casual brands Pollo Tropical and Taco Cabana both reported same-store sales declines during their most-recent earnings reports, citing mounting competition—especially from Chipotle Mexican Grill—as a major contributor to falling revenue and traffic.

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