QDOBA, America’s rapidly growing brand in the Mexican fast-casual dining category, has announced the appointment of Kevin Carroll as its new Chief Operating Officer. Carroll, a seasoned restaurant industry leader, will oversee operations across approximately 800 QDOBA locations throughout the U.S., Puerto Rico, and Canada.
“We are thrilled with Kevin’s decision to join the QDOBA family,” said John Cywinski, CEO of QDOBA. “Kevin is a truly exceptional leader and one of the most respected operators in the restaurant industry. I’ve worked alongside Kevin for many years, and I know first-hand the invaluable leadership and partnership he’ll bring to the QDOBA brand.”
Carroll’s extensive background includes a seven-year tenure as COO of Applebee’s Grill & Bar. There he oversaw operations for 1,600 restaurants and earned widespread respect from franchise partners and team members. Prior to that, he spent 27 years at Chili’s Grill & Bar (Brinker International). At Chili’s he held roles from Restaurant General Manager to Senior Vice President of Operations, managing over 700 company-owned restaurants and a $2 billion portfolio.
“QDOBA is indeed the best-kept secret in the restaurant industry, and I’m fired up to be partnering with John again in support of this extraordinarily well-positioned brand,” said Carroll. “I’m looking forward to working alongside our talented team and franchise partners to unlock our full potential.”
Poised for Expansion With Kevin Carroll
Carroll joins QDOBA as the brand continues to experience year-over-year growth. Over the past four consecutive years, QDOBA has accelerated its momentum. Now they are setting ambitious goals to double its footprint to over 1,600 restaurants within the next decade. Carrol intends to be an integral part of this journey forward.
John Cywinski , CEO of QDOBA also highlighted Carroll’s guest-first mindset and commitment to a culture of accountability as key strengths he brings to the table. “We are very fortunate to have a leader of Kevin’s caliber help guide us at this time of unprecedented growth,” he added.
With Carroll’s leadership and QDOBA’s sustained sales performance, the brand is positioning for its next phase of growth in the highly competitive fast-casual market.
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