Qdoba Mexican Eats on Monday promoted Keith Guilbault to CEO and named Susan Daggett chief financial officer as new owner Apollo Global Management moves to solidify the San Diego-based chain’s management team.
Guilbault had been Qdoba’s brand president and chief operating officer since 2016 under Jack in the Box’s ownership.
The New York-based private equity firm Apollo acquired Qdoba from Jack for $305 million in March.
Guilbault had held a series of executive positions with Jack in the Box, including chief marketing officer. He now gets the responsibility for leading the 740-unit Qdoba as an independent, privately-held restaurant chain.
“Keith has been instrumental in helping guide Qdoba through the brand’s sale and transition to an independent company,” Lance Milken, Apollo senior partner, said in a statement. He called Guilbault “ideally suited to lead Qdoba’s outstanding management team and group of franchisees as the company continues to bolster its position as a market-leading brand.”
Daggett, meanwhile, has more than two decades of financial experience in the restaurant industry and was most recently the interim CFO of Noodles & Co., where she had been vice president of finance since August 2016.
“Susan brings a wealth of knowledge and technical expertise that will greatly benefit Qdoba as we move forward,” Guilbault said in a statement. He called her a “visionary leader,” who has guided the financial operations of other large restaurant companies, which makes her a “natural fit” for the job at Qdoba.
Guilbault’s appointment as CEO is effective immediately. Daggett will join the company on May 23. The company continues to build internal roles that it previously shared with Jack in the Box. Qdoba said it expects to add 100 full-time positions to its corporate team in the coming months.
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