LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Del Taco Restaurants Inc. announced the promotion of John Cappasola Jr. to president and chief brand officer. He will report directly to CEO Paul Murphy III and lead the company’s brand strategy, marketing, menu development, culinary innovation, and restaurant operations and support.

“I’m pleased to announce John’s well-deserved promotion to President and Chief Brand Officer,” said Murphy III in a statement. “John is a strong leader and talented executive who has been instrumental in the development and execution of our Combined Solutions strategy, which has led to some of the best results in the restaurant category over the past several years. Under John’s leadership we’ve repositioned Del Taco, significantly enhanced the menu and our food, and fostered a culture of partnership and collaboration among our people and franchisees to dramatically improve the guest experience. This move reflects a natural evolution of John’s leadership and his impressive track record of achievement. His expanded leadership role will be critical to optimize cross-departmental performance as we execute our long-term growth strategy. I am confident that in his new position, the already strong alignment of the restaurant experience and our brand promise will only grow to new heights.”

Cappasola had served as executive vice president and chief brand officer at Del Taco prior to his promotion. Prior to Del Taco, he served in leadership roles at Blockbuster Inc., holding positions in marketing, strategic development, and operations across a 16-year tenure.

“I am grateful to Paul and the Del Taco leadership team for this incredible opportunity,” Cappasola said. “Over the past several years we have been on a journey to develop Del Taco into a QSR-plus leader and we have made great strides in accomplishing our goals. I look forward to continuing this important work with the talented people across Del Taco. Together we will continue our drive to be among the category leaders in execution and give our guests great brand experiences.”