Elizabeth “Liz” Williams has served as our Chief Executive Officer since March 2024. Prior to joining El Pollo Loco, Ms. Williams was the CEO of Outfox Hospitality, overseeing Foxtrot, a modern café and convenience store. Before her time at Outfox, Ms. Williams led Hart House, LLC, and served as CEO of Drybar Holdings, LLC, the premier blow dry bar specializing in blowouts, hair care products, and styling tools. Her extensive career includes leadership roles at Taco Bell, a subsidiary of Yum! Brands, Inc. Liz was the President of Taco Bell International, responsible for the brand strategy, growth, and performance of the international business across 30 countries. Before this role, she was the Global Chief Financial Officer, leading Finance, Strategy, Information Technology, and e-commerce. Ms. Williams also spent six years at Boston Consulting Group, specializing in Consumer and Retail practice. She holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas and an MBA from Northwestern Kellogg School of Management. Liz serves on the board of Stitchfix (SFIX).

Nancy Faginas-Cody has been a director since December 2021. Ms. Faginas-Cody retired from Walt Disney Company as the Senior Vice President, Information Technology Enterprise Business Systems, a position she held from 2013 to 2020. She previously served as Vice President, Information Technology for Disney Consumer Products, Inc. from 2004 to 2013 and as Director, Information Technology for Disney Stores Worldwide from 1999 to 2004. In her most recent role with Walt Disney Company, she was responsible for the global corporate enterprise business systems. Prior to Walt Disney Company, Ms. Faginas-Cody served in IT leadership roles for retailers such as FEDCO and MacFrugal’s. Ms. Faginas-Cody holds an MBA from the University of California-Irvine and a bachelor’s degree in economics from California State University-Fullerton. With more than 40 years of experience in Information Technology, Ms. Faginas-Cody is well-qualified to serve on our Board.

Deborah Gonzalez has been a director since December 2021. Ms. Gonzalez brings over 30 years of brand marketing experience to our Board. Ms. Gonzalez currently serves as Senior Vice President, Global Marketing & Communications for Concentrix Corporation, a leading global provider of customer experience solutions and technology, a position she has held since 2020. Previously, Ms. Gonzalez held senior leadership positions in diverse industries, such as Senior Partner for CMO Consulting Group from 2018 to 2020, Chief Brand/Marketing Officer for Massage Envy Franchising from 2014-2018 and various senior leadership roles at PetSmart, Inc. from 2002 to 2014, including Vice President, Merchandising Marketing. Ms. Gonzalez holds an MBA from Thunderbird School of Global Management and a bachelor’s degree in business economics from University of San Diego. With Ms. Gonzalez’s specific expertise in building brands and delivering marketing programs that help grow demand and loyalty with a focus on customer experience, she is well-qualified to serve on our Board.

Douglas J. Babb has been a director since 2018. From 2007 to 2014, he was Chief Executive Officer of Cooper Clinic, P.A. (“Cooper”), one of the largest multi-specialty, physician-owned clinics in the Arkansas region. Additionally, from 2010 to 2014, he served as an Adjunct Instructor for the College of Business at the University of Arkansas - Fort Smith. From 2015 to present, he serves as Managing Director for Babb Strategic Services, L.L.P. (“Babb Strategic”), a consulting and strategic planning services company that he formed in 2006. Prior to forming Babb Strategic, he served as Executive Vice President - Chief Administrative and Legal Officer, and Secretary of Beverly Enterprises, Inc., a leading provider of healthcare services to the elderly in the United States, from 2000 to 2006. Prior to that he served in various senior executive roles at Burlington Northern, Inc., a diversified transportation company and Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corporation, from 1978 to 1999 and as Staff Counsel for the South Carolina Attorney General’s Office from 1977 to 1978. Mr. Babb is Immediate Past Chair of the United States Marshals Museum. During his 5 1/2 years as Chair, the museum experience was fabricated and installed and the museum completed. The 53,000 square foot museum honoring the United States Marshals Service opened to the public on July 1, 2023. Mr. Babb is now a Director on the United States Marshals Museum Foundation Board of Directors. He holds a bachelor's degree from Minnesota State University and a J.D. from the University of South Carolina. Mr. Babb is well-qualified to serve on our Board on account of his extensive experience, in particular the successful turnaround of Beverly Enterprises.

Samuel N. Borgese has been a director since 2011, and he served as Chairman of our Board from January 2011 to December 2011, while he also served as our Executive Chairman. Samuel N. Borgese is the Founder and Managing Member of Gather Holdings, LLC the equity owner of Gather Intermediate Holdco, LLC and Shari’s Management Corporation. Between July 2017 and April 2023, Mr. Borgese was the President, Chief Executive Officer, and Director of Shari’s Management Corporation and Shari’s Restaurant Group, Inc, a multi-location family dining company. Since 2011, Mr. Borgese has been Managing Partner of Aceneca, LLC, a restaurant investment and consulting firm focused on creating shared value in the restaurant and other business sectors. From October 2014 to August 2016, he was President and Chief Executive Officer, and a member of the board of directors, of LRI Holdings, Inc., and its affiliates Logan’s Roadhouse, Inc., and Roadhouse Holding Inc., collectively known as Logan’s Roadhouse, a casual dining steakhouse chain. In August 2016, the Logan’s Roadhouse entities and various of their affiliates filed voluntary petitions for relief under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code. Mr. Borgese left Logan’s Roadhouse in August 2016, following the declaration of bankruptcy. From 2011 to 2014, he was Chief Executive Officer of Max Brenner International, a global chocolatier. From 2008 to 2011, he was first Interim President and Chief Executive Officer and then permanent President and Chief Executive Officer of CB Holding Corp., the parent of Charlie Brown’s Steakhouse and other chains, which was owned by Trimaran Capital Partners. From 2003 to 2008, he was employed by Catalina Restaurant Group, first as Chief Development Officer and later as President and Chief Executive Officer. Before that, Mr. Borgese was Chief Executive Officer of Bay Logics, Inc. an enterprise software company that supported 300 restaurant, retail, hospitality, and general services businesses in the lifecycle management of their real estate assets. Mr. Borgese attended Temple University’s Architecture and Engineering school and holds a Certificate of Director Education from the National Association of Corporate Directors and a Certification of Completion of Harvard Business School Executive Education Program, CSV Program. With more than 30 years of senior executive and other leadership positions with public and private companies in the retail, technology, restaurant and hospitality sectors, Mr. Borgese is well qualified to serve on our Board.

William R. Floyd has been the Chairperson of our Board since April 2023 and a director since 2016. From 2012 to 2019, Mr. Floyd was a director of Korn/Ferry International, a major executive recruiting firm and talent consultancy, as well as Pivot Physical Therapy, a regional outpatient physical therapy provider. In addition, he served as a business development corporation board member of Muzinich Capital LLC and a broker-dealer affiliated with Muzinich & Co., Inc., a global institutional asset manager specializing in corporate credit from 2016 to 2019. From October 2017 to June 2020, Mr. Floyd served as Chairman of Busaba Restaurants, a U.K. based Thai restaurant concept for which Muzinich is the principal debt holder. From 2009 to 2012, he was Chairman of the Board of Buffet Holdings, Inc., which, through its subsidiaries, owns and operates a chain of restaurants in the United States. Before his retirement as an executive, from 2007 to 2008, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Physiotherapy Associates, a leading provider of outpatient physical rehabilitation services. From 2006 to 2007, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Benchmark Medical, Inc., a predecessor to Physiotherapy Associates. From 2001 to 2006, he was Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Beverly Enterprises, Inc., a leading provider of eldercare services. From 2000 to 2001, he was President and Chief Operating Officer of Beverly Enterprises, Inc. From 1996 to 1998, he was President and Chief Executive Officer of Choice Hotels International. From 1989 to 1996, he served in various executive positions within PepsiCo Inc.’s restaurant group, including, from 1995 to 1996, as Chief Operating Officer of Taco Bell Corp., and, from 1994 to 1995, as Chief Operating Officer of Kentucky Fried Chicken. Mr. Floyd holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, where he served as a member of the Board of Overseers of the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing from 2006-2021. Because of his 30 plus years of experience in marketing, management, and operations, as a director, executive, and senior manager in the service industry, with a particular focus on food service, Mr. Floyd is well-qualified to serve on our Board.

Mark Buller has been a director since 2015. He was appointed Executive Chairman of Superior Cabinets in July 2018 and from 2013 to 2015, Mr. Buller was the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Norcraft Companies, Inc., a leading manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom cabinetry in the United States and Canada. Beginning in 2003, Mr. Buller was the Chief Executive Officer of the predecessor of Norcraft Companies, Inc., Norcraft Companies, L.P., as well as a member of the board of managers for that entity’s general partner, Norcraft GP, L.L.C. Mr. Buller’s executive experience in the home furnishings industry is longstanding. From 1988 to 1996, Mr. Buller served in various management positions at Kitchen Craft Cabinets, a Canadian cabinetry maker. From 1996 to 1999, he served as President of Kitchen Craft. Following the acquisition of Kitchen Craft by Omega Cabinets, Ltd., he continued in that position from 1999 to 2000. In 2000, Mr. Buller was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Omega. He remained in that position until 2002, leaving Omega after it was sold to Fortune Brands, Inc. In sum, Mr. Buller has over 26 years in the home furnishings industry, and he spent 18 years as a chief executive officer or division president. Mr. Buller is well-qualified to serve on our Board due to his extensive leadership, executive, managerial, and business experience, particularly in the salient areas of supply chain logistics, product design, brand management, and consumer trends.