---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001387131-23-013023"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "LOCO"
cik: "0001606366"
company_name: "El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc."
filed_at: "2023-11-02T23:59:59+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-06-09T00:24:35.182488+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.75
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# El Pollo Loco CEO Laurance Roberts departs; COO Hollandsworth named interim CEO

## Summary
- Roberts leaves as President/CEO/Director effective Nov 3, 2023; receives 1-year salary continuation ($700k) and $53,846 consulting fee.
- COO Maria Hollandsworth becomes interim CEO effective Nov 4; base salary increased to $400k, target bonus up to 100%.
- Hollandsworth gets two $75k retention bonuses (Dec 2023, May 2024) and a $200k RSU grant cliff-vesting in one year.
- CFO Ira Fils receives RSUs and options each with $155k grant date value, cliff-vesting in one year.
- Board engaged executive search firm to identify a permanent CEO.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001387131-23-013023
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: LOCO
- cik: 0001606366
- company_name: El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
- filed_at: 2023-11-02T23:59:59+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.75
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.75
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02, 7.01, 9.01
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000138713123013023/0001387131-23-013023-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000138713123013023/loco-8k_110223.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001387131-23-013023
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001387131-23-013023.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001387131-23-013023.txt

## Key facts
- Executive change
  Maria Hollandsworth was appointed as Interim Chief Executive Officer and President at El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc..
  - Action: appointed
  - Role: Interim Chief Executive Officer and President
  source text: the Board has appointed Maria Hollandsworth as interim Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company (“ Interim CEO ”), effective as of November 4, 2023.
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000138713123013023/0001387131-23-013023-index.htm
- Executive change
  Laurance Roberts departed as Chief Executive Officer and President at El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc..
  - Action: leaving
  - Role: Chief Executive Officer and President
  source text: On November 2, 2023, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (the “ Company ”) announced that Laurance Roberts, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and President, is leaving his position as Chief Executive Officer and President and as a member of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “ Board ”), effective as of the close of business on November 3, 2023
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000138713123013023/0001387131-23-013023-index.htm
- Executive change
  Maria Hollandsworth changed role as EVP, Chief Operating Officer at El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc..
  - Action: promoted
  - Role: EVP, Chief Operating Officer
  source text: Ms. Hollandsworth will be promoted to EVP, Chief Operating Officer and her base salary will increase to $400,000
  evidence_url: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000138713123013023/0001387131-23-013023-index.htm

This AI-assisted summary is a reading aid. Review the linked SEC EDGAR filing before relying on any specific claim.