Ed Valle has been named chief marketing officer for the El Pollo Loco grilled chicken chain, the company said Wednesday.
Valle, who replaces previous CMO Karen Eadon, who stepped down for personal reasons last year, was previously chief market strategist for Choice Hotels International Inc.
Prior to that, he was vice president of marketing at Panera Bread Co., where he launched the chain’s first television advertising and media campaigns. He has also held marketing positions at Dunkin’ Donuts, Subway and Diageo.
Based in Costa Mesa, Calif., El Pollo Loco operates or franchises nearly 400 restaurants in Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Utah.
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