---
schema_version: "secwatch.filing_event.v1"
accession: "0001606366-26-000051"
form_type: "8-K"
ticker: "LOCO"
cik: "0001606366"
company_name: "El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc."
filed_at: "2026-09-25T20:11:46+00:00"
generated_at: "2026-10-12T13:22:26.353620+00:00"
event_type: "leadership"
sentiment: "neutral"
materiality_score: 0.3
calibrated_materiality_score: 0.3
confidence: "high"
source: SEC EDGAR
---

# El Pollo Loco appoints Damon Thomas Chief Operating Officer, effective Sept 21, 2026

## Summary
- Damon Thomas, 49, named COO effective Sept 21, 2026, reporting to CEO Elizabeth "Liz" Williams; previously SVP Operations at Shake Shack through Sept 2026.
- Base salary $425,000; target cash bonus equal to 75% of salary, with a guaranteed minimum 2026 bonus of $225,000.
- One-time sign-on grant of restricted stock and performance share units valued at ~$500,000 vesting over three years, plus a $25,000 cash sign-on bonus.
- Annual equity awards of ~$400,000 beginning 2027, vesting 33% per year over three years; severance of 12 months of continued base salary if terminated without cause or for good reason.
- Prior roles include VP Operations at Yoshinoya America (June 2022-Aug 2023) and senior operations posts at Quest Food Management Services and Raising Cane's Chicken Fingers.

## SEC filing metadata
- accession: 0001606366-26-000051
- form_type: 8-K
- ticker: LOCO
- cik: 0001606366
- company_name: El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.
- filed_at: 2026-09-25T20:11:46+00:00
- event_type: leadership
- sentiment: neutral
- materiality_score: 0.3
- calibrated_materiality_score: 0.3
- confidence: high
- sec_items: 5.02
- EDGAR index: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636626000051/0001606366-26-000051-index.htm
- EDGAR primary document: https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/1606366/000160636626000051/loco-20260925x8k.htm

## Machine-readable alternates
- HTML: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-26-000051
- JSON: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-26-000051.json
- Plain text: https://secwatch.observer/filing/0001606366-26-000051.txt

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