Laurance R. (“Larry”) Roberts is a seasoned executive and board-ready leader with over 40 years of distinguished experience in the quick service restaurant (QSR) industry and Fortune 500 environments. His career spans executive leadership, corporate finance, operations, international joint ventures, and strategic transformation—culminating in his role as president and chief executive officer of El Pollo Loco, Inc., a publicly traded company with over $1 billion in system sales and nearly 500 locations across seven states.
Larry’s legacy at El Pollo Loco (2013–2023) is one of transformation and growth. As CFO for eight years, he successfully led the company through a high-profile IPO and multiple capital market transactions, including a secondary offering and stock sale. He built a strong financial foundation by optimizing capital structure, implementing disciplined cost controls, and improving restaurant-level profitability. His strategic focus on refranchising underperforming locations and driving margin expansion earned him recognition as a results-driven and pragmatic financial leader.
In 2021, Larry was appointed CEO and a member of the board of directors, where he initiated a turnaround effort that revitalized both company operations and brand perception. Under his leadership, El Pollo Loco achieved significant improvements in drive-thru efficiency, customer satisfaction, and staffing stability—positioning the company for long-term success. Larry also spearheaded a company-wide reorganization to streamline functions and reduce annual costs by approximately $2 million, while simultaneously upgrading the executive team and launching a five-year strategic growth plan. Key components included brand repositioning, operational efficiency, new restaurant prototype development, and refranchising initiatives—all while maintaining a focus on food quality and returning value to shareholders.
Prior to El Pollo Loco, Larry held several senior leadership roles over a 15-year tenure at Yum! Brands, the world’s largest restaurant company with brands like KFC, Pizza Hut, and Taco Bell. His positions included chief operating officer and chief financial officer of KFC U.S., where he was responsible for 5,000+ restaurants and over $5 billion in system sales. He directed significant operational and financial restructurings, including the consolidation of regions for cost savings, talent upgrades across field leadership, and major initiatives to improve labor and food cost efficiencies. As CFO of Pizza Hut (UK) Ltd., he led a 400-restaurant joint venture with Whitbread PLC, increasing operating profit by over $10 million and transforming supply chain operations to deliver multimillion-dollar savings.
Larry’s early career began at General Electric, followed by roles at Cadbury Schweppes, Merck & Co., and PepsiCo, where he held leadership roles in treasury, international finance, and corporate reporting. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a consistent ability to lead cross-functional teams, develop actionable strategic plans, and execute with operational discipline.
Larry holds an M.B.A. from the University of Michigan’s Ross School of Business and a B.A. in Economics, cum laude, from Bucknell University. He also completed GE’s renowned Financial Management Program at the start of his career.
Now retired from day-to-day executive responsibilities, Larry is pursuing board and advisory roles where he can apply his expertise in finance, operations, growth strategy, and governance. He is particularly interested in companies in the restaurant, retail, and consumer services sectors that are navigating growth, transformation, or market repositioning.
Larry resides in Laguna Niguel, California, and enjoys an active lifestyle including golf, gardening, and pickleball. He also supports nonprofits focused on homeless families and is committed to giving back through mentorship and service.
Character: Larry Roberts is a principled and results-driven leader known for his integrity, resilience, and commitment to building strong teams and ethical organizations.
Knowledge: With over 40 years of experience across finance, operations, and international markets, Larry brings deep industry expertise in QSR, franchising, and public company leadership.
Strategic: Larry has a proven ability to develop and execute transformative growth strategies, including IPO leadership, brand repositioning, and operational turnarounds.
Communication: A clear and persuasive communicator, Larry effectively engages stakeholders from the boardroom to front-line teams, fostering alignment and trust.
