Pollo Campero Names Karla Patino Vice President of Us Marketing and Sales

In this role, Patino leads marketing and sales strategy for Campero USA, with a focus on deepening Pollo Campero's connection with U.S. Hispanic consumers and driving continued growth. Her appointment comes as Pollo Campero grows beyond 150 U.S. restaurants and works toward 250 U.S. locations by 2030.

Patino joins Pollo Campero after nearly 20 years in brand marketing. She has held leadership roles with some of the industry's most recognizable QSR brands, including Taco Bell, KFC, Burger King, Chipotle and Subway.

Most recently, Patino served as chief marketing officer for Taco Bell Latin America, where she led the region's first-ever international artist partnership, a Taco Tuesday campaign with Latin music star Myke Towers. Earlier in her tenure at Yum!, she spearheaded market turnarounds for KFC across Colombia, Costa Rica and Brazil, built the sandwich category as a meaningful growth driver for the brand and led the opening of Taco Bell in Ecuador.

“Karla joins our company at a pivotal moment as we leverage our rich heritage and deeply rooted community story to expand our U.S. presence and look to become the most beloved chicken brand for the communities we serve,” said Campero USA Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer Luis Javier Rodas. “She has made a name for herself not only for her strategic instincts but for her ability to build and inspire high-performing teams. She brings a people-first leadership philosophy rooted in a belief that genuine human connection is what builds lasting brand loyalty.”

Born in Venezuela and raised between Venezuela and Brazil, Patino studied advertising at the Universidade de Brasilia and earned her MBA in Marketing from Fundação Getulio Vargas in Brazil before moving to the U.S. in 2014.

“My ultimate goal is to make Pollo Campero the most-loved brand for the U.S. Hispanic community,” said Patino. “I'm a proud immigrant who knows what it means to carry your culture with you everywhere you go. Working for a brand built by a family, for a community, and being part of the team that gets to continue to grow it in the U.S. feels deeply personal and a full-circle moment.”