In January 2022, the title of Zaxby’s CEO changed hands to Bernard Acoca when co-founder Zach McLeroy moved to the chairman position. McLeroy wanted to bring in fresh eyes at a time that the chicken restaurant was wanting to expand to more parts of the United States.

Bernard Acoca has worked for several companies to help them grow to new levels, which allows him to be a fit for a company that is already considered popular and successful. At the time that the positions changed hands, the company was in 17 states and had more than 900 locations for their fans.

Bernard Acoca switched from being the CEO of El Pollo Loco to make this move to Zaxby’s. Before he was there, he was seven years in the leadership team at Starbucks, president of Teavana, part of management at L’Oreal, and started his career at Yum! Brands. Acoca brings the knowledge he gained from all of these companies to the restaurant chain and will work with McLeroy in moving the company where it needs to go, while maintaining a positive company environment. McLeroy staying on allows for a continuity in many areas that the company needs while changes happen from growth.

Zaxby’s was founded in 1990 by McLeroy and Tony Townley, which has stayed being based in Athens, Georgia. McLeroy was Zaxby’s CEO through to this change, which means that many looked to see if there was something more to the move. Nicole Agnew, a member of the board, is also a partner at Goldman Sachs, spoke in nothing but positive ways of the move. The company was looking to find someone who could replace McLeroy, expand the company in a positive way, and to maintain a culture that the customers enjoy. Zaxby’s has kept all of this almost a year later. See related link for more information.

More about Acoca on https://www.zaxbys.com/about/leadership