Whataburger names Ryan Moore CFO

Whataburger on Tuesday named longtime industry veteran Ryan Moore its next chief financial officer.

Moore will take over the position on July 31.

Moore has 16 years of restaurant finance leadership experience. He spent six years as CFO of Torchy’s Tacos and 10 years with Taco Bell, where he was VP of finance.

Whataburger noted that Moore’s experience includes “helping restaurant brands grow beyond their core markets, aligning investment with growth, and preparing organizations for the next stage.”

Debbie Stroud, Whataburger’s CEO, in a statement called Moore a “proven financial leader with deep experience in the restaurant industry and a strong track record of helping brands navigate periods of meaningful growth.”

Whataburger is intent on growing, and doing so beyond its core market of Texas, where the company is based.

System sales last year grew 4.6% to more than $4.3 billion, according to data from Technomic. It is the 25th largest restaurant chain in the U.S. The company operates about 1,200 restaurants.

“Whataburger is an iconic regional brand with the opportunity to become a national player,” Moore said in a statement. He said the key to success is “finding the right way to share Whataburger with people who have not yet had the opportunity to experience it, while keeping the core essence and heart of the brand.”

Moore, who will start with Whataburger on July 31, will succeed Janelle Sykes, who is retiring in September after six years with the company. During her tenure, Whataburger grew from 860 locations to 1,200. The chain has restaurants in 17 states.

Stroud in a statement praised Sykes’ tenure with the company, saying she “made a lasting impact on Whataburger,” calling her knowledge of the business “invaluable.”