Industry veteran Ian Poole looks to support expansion, onboarding, and improvements.
Mexican food quick-service brand Taco John’s has bolstered its leadership team with a focus on franchise growth.
Ian Poole has been named vice president for development, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in restaurant and franchise brands. Taco Johns’s said that Poole will support Taco John’s expansion efforts while enhancing franchisee success through improvements across onboarding, real estate, and construction.
The new Taco John’s executive previously served as vice president of development for Subway. There, he led the North American development team and oversaw franchise sales, real estate, construction & design, equipment, business operations, and leasing for over 22,000 restaurants.
Poole has also held roles at Dunkin’ and Planet fitness along with experience as a franchisee with Burger King, Popeyes, and Arby’s with Ambrosia QSR.
“Taco John’s has built a strong foundation with a clear commitment to franchisee support, and I’m eager to help accelerate the brand’s expansion momentum,” Poole said. “Stepping into this role, my goal is to expand Taco John’s footprint in an intentional, sustainable way, delivering streamlined end-to-end support for every owner in our network.”
“We’re creating a system for both new and existing franchisees to scale with confidence, and looking ahead, I am excited for the growth that’s to come and the opportunities ahead for the brand,” Poole added.
Bringing previous experience as a franchisee with Burger King, Popeyes, and Arby’s with Ambrosia QSR, Poole is a passionate and collaborative leader, focused on strengthening franchise partnerships across the system.
“Ian’s addition to the team is a landmark appointment as we continue to strengthen our franchisee development systems and path to ownership,” said Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John’s. “His perspective as both an executive and franchisee offer invaluable insights into how we can continue to enhance our foundation to ensure each franchisee is set up for success. As we continue to build off the momentum from last year’s operational investments, we are excited to have Ian’s expertise and support on the team.”
Taco John’s has more than 325 locations in 21 states and is pointing to the Upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions as its next growth opportunities.
“Ian’s addition to the team is a landmark appointment as we continue to strengthen our franchisee development systems and path to ownership,” said Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John’s. “His perspective as both an executive and franchisee offer invaluable insights into how we can continue to enhance our foundation to ensure each franchisee is set up for success. As we continue to build off the momentum from last year’s operational investments, we are excited to have Ian’s expertise and support on the team.”
Regarding new developments at the company, Taco John’s said franchisees can expect to benefit from optimized menus tailored for smaller footprints, simplified labor and production models, performance standards designed for high-traffic environments, and targeted marketing strategies for non-traditional locations.
For information about franchise opportunities with Taco John’s, visit https://tacojohnsfranchise.com/.
