Farmer Boys announced Tuesday that David Wetzel, senior vice president of operations, has been promoted to president and chief operating officer of the fast-casual brand. He replaces Karen Eadon, who has retired.
Wetzel joined Farmer Boys in January. In his new role he will be responsible for “driving overall brand strategy, corporate and franchised development, and restaurant performance,” the company said.
“I am truly humbled and excited to be leading this legacy brand,” Wetzel, left, said in a statement. “In the last three months, I have had the great privilege to watch true leadership from Karen while we have navigated through this unprecedented challenging time for both the world and the restaurant industry.”
Prior to joining Farmer Boys, Wetzel held executive roles at Del Taco, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, El Pollo Loco and Taco Bell.
Eadon retires from Farmer Boys after six years with the company and nearly 40 in the restaurant industry. She joined Farmer Boys in 2014 as chief marketing officer and was promoted to president and COO the next year.
“I have been truly blessed to have fulfilled so many dreams over the past 40 years, and I leave Farmer Boys with countless and fond memories,” she said. “I have every bit of confidence in Dave’s ability to continue leading the brand in the right direction and to allow Farmer Boys to reach new guests in both new and existing markets. He has years of proven operational experience that will take Farmer Boys to new heights.”
Based in Riverside, Calif., Farmer Boys has around 100 units in California and Nevada.
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