El Pollo Loco names Damon Thomas chief operating officer effective September 21
El Pollo Loco Holdings appointed Damon Thomas as Chief Operating Officer, effective September 21, 2026, reporting directly to CEO Elizabeth Williams. His offer letter sets a $425,000 base salary, a target bonus of 75% of base salary, and a minimum 2026 bonus of $225,000, which adds to the company's executive compensation costs.
Key points
- Thomas, age 49, was previously Senior Vice President, Operations at Shake Shack Enterprises from August 2023 to September 2026.
- Offer letter includes a $425,000 annual base salary, a 75% target cash bonus, and a $25,000 sign-on bonus.
- Beginning in 2027, he is eligible for an annual equity award with a grant date value of about $400,000; a one-time grant of about $500,000 is also planned.
- Severance is generally 12 months of continued base salary if terminated without cause or if he resigns for good reason.
The filing
Written by AI on Nov 9, 2026, 8:38 AM ET, from this filing only. Written later: this filing was briefed after the fact, when past filings were added to the site, so the brief may be read with hindsight; the filing itself is the record of what was known on September 25, 2026.
Briefs are written by AI from the filing text and can contain mistakes — open the filing before acting on anything. Impact (1-5) and tone are the AI's reading of the filing for shareholders, not a price forecast. Not investment advice.