Esperto Hospitality Adds Franchise, Marketing Veterans to Scale Daddy’s Chicken Shack

On the heels of its acquisition of Daddy’s Chicken Shack, Esperto Hospitality Group, the New Jersey multi-concept operator behind COVO Italian Steakhouse, Local House Kitchen + Bar, and four other concepts, named Todd Madlener as President & Chief Development Officer and Ryan Murrin as Chief Marketing Officer. The appointments signal Esperto’s intent to move quickly, pairing a veteran franchise operator and a consumer-brand marketer to scale its portfolio and lead the regional growth of Daddy’s Chicken Shack.

The hires come at a pivotal moment. Esperto acquired Daddy’s Chicken Shack in May, bringing the chef-driven, fast-casual chicken concept, known for its buttermilk-brined, hand-battered chicken, house-made pickles, and scratch-made sauces, into one of the country’s most competitive dining markets. Esperto will open its first Daddy’s location in Tinton Falls in the third quarter of 2026, with additional New Jersey restaurants to follow and a longer-term plan to grow the brand along the East Coast and open it to franchising.

Madlener and Murrin give the company the operational firepower and brand vision to do it.

Madlener brings more than 30 years of restaurant operations and franchise development experience. He spent 21 years at Red Robin Gourmet Burgers leading franchise operations for more than 100 locations, and has since held senior leadership roles including Vice President of Operations for MAD Greens and President and COO of Coolgreens, where he helped position the brand for a successful sale. Across his career, Madlener has supported more than 60 new restaurant openings and 75 brand transformations.

At Esperto, he will oversee franchise expansion and operational systems across the portfolio, with an immediate focus on building out Daddy’s Chicken Shack.

Murrin joins with more than 20 years of brand and marketing experience across restaurant, franchise, and consumer packaged goods. He began his career at Chipotle Mexican Grill, where he spent 15 years directing media, research, sponsorships, brand strategy, loyalty and CRM, and award-winning advertising. He has since served as Chief Marketing Officer at Pancheros Mexican Grill and held leadership roles at direct-to-consumer brand Ka’Chava and virtual restaurant company Nextbite.

Murrin also knows Daddy’s firsthand: he worked with the brand during its time under Area 15, its previous owner, giving him a running start on the concept he will now help scale. A University of Iowa graduate, he is based in Denver.

“Todd and Ryan are exactly the kind of leaders we want at this stage of our growth,” said John DiLeo, President of Esperto Hospitality Group. “We just brought Daddy’s into the family, and now we have the team to do it justice. Todd has built and scaled franchise systems that work, and Ryan has shaped some of the most recognizable consumer brands in our industry. Together, they bring the operational discipline and brand vision we need to grow this company the right way.”

“Esperto has the operational foundation and leadership culture you rarely find together,” said Madlener. “John and Anthony have built a portfolio of concepts that perform, and Daddy’s Chicken Shack is a brand with real legs. The chance to help scale all of it from here, starting with Daddy’s, is one I couldn’t pass up.”

“What drew me to Esperto is the same thing that drew me to Chipotle 20 years ago: real food, real hospitality, and real growth potential,” said Murrin. “I got to know Daddy’s in a previous chapter, and I always believed the concept deserved the right operator. Esperto is that operator. There’s a clear vision here and a leadership team willing to invest in building brands the right way.”

Esperto Hospitality Group operates six concepts across New Jersey and is actively developing additional Daddy’s Chicken Shack locations ahead of its Q3 2026 Tinton Falls opening.