---
title: "Taco John's adds veteran restaurant executive to board"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/24727e8d-5886-459d-b205-383bfcccd254
source: "Franchise Magazine USA"
original_url: https://franchisemagazineusa.com/taco-johns-adds-veteran-restaurant-exec-to-board/
author: "Andrew Carlo"
category: "Mexican"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Mexican"
published: 2026-07-30T11:39:57.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T00:52:57.160Z
image: https://franchisemagazineusa.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/taco-johns-768x429-1.jpg
---

# Taco John's adds veteran restaurant executive to board

**TL;DR:** Taco John's has added Sarah McAloon, a veteran restaurant executive, to its board of directors, bringing over 30 years of experience in the QSR space. McAloon joins the board as the company looks to increase relevance among guests with high-quality menu items.

*By Andrew Carlo, originally published in Franchise Magazine USA on 2026-07-30. [Read the original](https://franchisemagazineusa.com/taco-johns-adds-veteran-restaurant-exec-to-board/).*

## Story

John’s, the quick-service Mexican restaurant brand, reported that it has made a key addition to its board of directors.

The company announced that restaurant executive Sarah McAloon has joined the board. According to Taco John’s, the new director brings more than 30 years of experience leading international and domestic marketing and operational strategies in the QSR space.

“Sarah’s track record of leadership and her broad perspective on the restaurant industry make her an outstanding addition to our Board,” said Heather Neary, president and CEO of Taco John’s. “She brings valuable insights into brand building, franchising, consumer engagement, and business transformation that will help inform our strategic direction and support sustainable growth for the company and our franchisees.”

Taco John’s noted that McAloon joins the board as it looks to “increase relevance among guests with high-quality menu items that set the brand apart in the Mexican QSR space.”

McAloon also served as president of Café Express and chief marketing officer of both CiCi’s Pizza and Sbarro. The new board member’s background also includes 10 years in marketing and national media roles with Pizza Hut.

“What has kept me passionate about the restaurant industry throughout my career is its ability to create jobs, develop future leaders, and open doors for people who may not have followed a traditional career path,” said McAloon. “Taco John’s embodies that sense of opportunity while also offering something truly distinctive to its guests. The brand’s signature menu items combined with its clear dedication to quality and its focus on delivering West-Mex hospitality to its guests has allowed Taco John’s to create an incredibly loyal fan base.

I am excited to help build upon those strengths and introduce even more people to what makes Taco John’s so special.”

Based in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Taco John’s has 324 locations in 21 states. About 97% of Taco John’s locations are owned by franchisees.

The brand reports an AUV of nearly $1.9 million in its franchise disclosure report. Taco John’s was founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyoming.

## Entities

- QSR (sector)
- franchising (topic)
- Franchise Magazine USA (publication)
- restaurant industry (topic)
- Andrew Carlo (person)
- Taco John's (company)
- brand building (topic)
- Heather Neary (person)
- qsr space (topic)
- Sarah McAloon (person)
- board addition (topic)

---
Originally reported by Andrew Carlo, Franchise Magazine USA (https://franchisemagazineusa.com/taco-johns-adds-veteran-restaurant-exec-to-board/). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/24727e8d-5886-459d-b205-383bfcccd254).