El Pollo Loco, Inc. announced the appointment of Jennifer Jaffe as Senior Vice President and the company’s first-ever Chief People Officer. Jaffe brings years of proven leadership and experience leading HR and talent management functions to this newly created role, the company said.
“We could not be more thrilled to have Jennifer join the El Pollo Loco team to spearhead this important leadership role within the company,” says Bernard Acoca, president and Chief Executive Officer at El Pollo Loco. “Our people, from the restaurants to the Support Center to the franchisees, are our greatest asset. Jennifer brings the visionary and authentic leadership needed to help us create a truly amazing culture for our people, who in turn will continue to give our customers the best food and the best experience possible.”
In her role as Chief People Officer, Jaffe will be responsible for overseeing all of the company’s HR functions and working with management to transform and accelerate the company’s focus on developing a people-first culture for El Pollo Loco’s Support Center and more than 480 company-owned and franchised restaurants.
“I’m excited to join El Pollo Loco at a time when the company is so clearly focused on renewing its commitment to creating an authentic, transparent and people-first culture,” Jaffe says. “El Pollo Loco’s mission is centered on the idea of putting its people’s needs and considerations first in everything the company does, and I look forward to playing a role in fostering that very important mission.”
Jaffe earned a Bachelor of Arts in both International Studies and Sociology from University of California of Irvine and a Master of Science in Human Resources from Chapman University.
With more than 480 company-owned and franchised restaurants in Arizona, California, Nevada, Texas, Utah, and Louisiana, El Pollo Loco is expanding its presence in key markets through a combination of company and existing and new franchisee development.
