---
title: "Former Starbucks Exec Named CEO of El Pollo Loco"
url: https://burnaze.com/article/61b1a290-55ff-4029-9eff-0f06e04d4610
source: "1851 Franchise"
original_url: https://1851franchise.com/former-starbucks-exec-named-ceo-of-el-pollo-loco-2705793
category: "Coffee & tea"
industry: "Restaurants"
segment: "Coffee & tea"
topics: ["People"]
published: 2018-03-05T18:13:02.000Z
modified: 2026-11-01T02:33:40.215Z
image: https://newimage.1851franchise.com/cdn-cgi/image/quality=85,format=webp,width=1280,height=720/story/featureImage/ad9006ecaee238bf26e238fbd4147c58876.jpg
---

# Former Starbucks Exec Named CEO of El Pollo Loco

**TL;DR:** Bernard Acoca, former president of Starbucks' Teavana tea brand, has been named CEO of El Pollo Loco. He brings a proven track record of driving sales and profit growth through new product development and brand communications.

*originally published in 1851 Franchise on 2018-03-05. [Read the original](https://1851franchise.com/former-starbucks-exec-named-ceo-of-el-pollo-loco-2705793).*

## Story

Fast Casual — On March 12, Bernard Acoca will become El Pollo Loco’s new president and CEO. Acoca was previously president of Starbucks’ Teavana tea brand, which grew dramatically during his tenure.

El Pollo Loco’s former president and CEO, Steve Sather, announced his retirement last year but delayed his departure until a successor had been appointed. Sather had been president and CEO of El Pollo Loco since 2010 and had previously been the brand’s senior vice president of operations since 2006.

"With a long and proven track record of driving sales and profit growth through new product development, brand communications and integrated go-to-market strategies, Bernard brings significant strategic, marketing, operational and digital expertise to the role of CEO," El Pollo Loco Board Chair Michael Maselli said in the release. "As El Pollo Loco embarks on its next chapter of growth, we are confident that Bernard's skill set, experience and passion for the brand make him the ideal person to lead this company into the future."

## Entities

- 1851 Franchise (publication)
- Restaurants (sector)
- brand growth (topic)
- Starbucks (company)
- leadership change (topic)
- ceo appointment (topic)
- El Pollo Loco (company)
- Bernard Acoca (person)

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Originally reported by 1851 Franchise (https://1851franchise.com/former-starbucks-exec-named-ceo-of-el-pollo-loco-2705793). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/61b1a290-55ff-4029-9eff-0f06e04d4610).