Wingstop Inc. has launched a search to replace William Engen, the brand’s chief operating officer who resigned on Tuesday, the company said.
Engen resigned “to pursue a new opportunity, effective immediately,” the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing Wednesday. “The company will promptly commence a search for his replacement.”
Engen was named COO in September 2014 and helped lead the fast-casual company through its initial public offering in June 2015.
Prior to Wingstop, Engen was senior vice president of operations for 7-Eleven Inc.’s Eastern division. He directed 7-Eleven’s operations for more than 4,000 franchised locations, which represented half of the company’s domestic business.
Engen succeeded Bill Knight, who retired after leading Wingstop’s operations group for 11 years.
In Nation’s Restaurant News most recent Top 100 census of U.S. systemwide sales, Wingstop ranked as the third fastest-growing chain, with sales rising 21.5 percent. That bumped the brand up to No. 60 in the Top 100, from No. 67 the preceding year. The company was also ranked third in terms of domestic unit growth, opening a net 115 locations over the course of the year.
Wingstop ended fiscal 2015 with 845 locations worldwide.
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