Liz Williams

CEO at El Pollo Loco

Speaker

Liz Williams is the CEO of El Pollo Loco (NASDAQ: LOCO), the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain known for its craveable, flavorful, and better-for-you offerings using fresh ingredients inspired by Mexican recipes. With 500 company-owned and franchised restaurants in seven states and growing.

Prior to joining El Pollo Loco, Liz was the CEO of different early-stage, private equity ventures, Foxtrot, a modern café and convenience store, Hart House, a plant-based concept backed by actor and comedian, Kevin Hart and Drybar, the premier blow dry bar specializing in blowouts, hair care products and styling tools.

Liz has deep roots in the restaurant space as the former President of Taco Bell International, a subsidiary of Yum Brands, Inc.’s (NYSE: YUM). In this role, Liz was responsible for the brand strategy, growth and performance of the International business across 30 countries. In her two years leading Taco Bell International, Liz established development agreements for significant growth in India, Brazil, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, Spain and France.

Prior to this role, Liz was the Taco Bell Global CFO, leading Finance, Strategy, Information Technology and eCommerce, where she was responsible for all financial elements of the $11B business. While at Taco Bell, Liz delivered eight years of industry leading sales, profit, unit, and brand growth. Liz also spent a year at Yum Leading corporate strategy for the office of the CEO.

Before joining Yum, Liz spent six years with The Boston Consulting Group (BCG) as Principal in the Consumer and Retail practices in U.S. and Asian markets. She also spent seven years at Dell Computer in various finance, brand marketing and corporate sales positions.

Liz serves as a board member for Stitch Fix (NASDAQ: SFIX), a leading online personal retailer and previously served as a board member for Viant (NASDAQ: DSP), an advertising software provider. She has also served as a board trustee for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Orange County and Harbor Day School in Newport Beach.

Liz received her bachelor’s degree, as a marketing major, from the University of Texas Business Honors Program and earned her MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.