The CEO of the fast-growing Wahlburgers concept is resigning to run another restaurant chain, the Boston-based brand announced Monday.
Rick Vanzura, a former Panera Bread executive who has been with Wahlburgers for more than six years, did not say which company he was joining.
Patrick Renna, the burger chain’s chief financial officer, has been named interim CEO. Vanzura’s last day is Friday.
Twenty-six-unit Wahlburgers was founded in 2011 by celebrity brothers Mark, Donnie and Paul Wahlberg and is featured in an A&E reality TV show of the same name.
“On behalf of Mark, Paul and our entire family, we are grateful for Rick’s years of tireless dedication to this company and being a key part of our brand growth and franchise development,” Donnie Wahlberg said in a statement. “We understand and support his decision to step down and appreciate all of the years he worked with us and wish him and his family the very best.”
Wahlburgers recently launched a Boston-based food truck, and began selling its burger patties in hundreds of grocery stores around the U.S.