Staffing

Farmer Boys names replacement for retiring president

David Wetzel, Farmer Boys' former senior vice president of operations, has replaced Karen Eadon as president and COO. (Photo provided)

June 9, 2020

David Wetzel, Farmer Boys' former senior vice president of operations, has replaced Karen Eadon as president and COO, who retired after six years with the company and nearly 40 in the restaurant industry, according to a company press release.

Wetzel, who is now responsible for driving overall brand strategy, corporate and franchised development and restaurant performance, joined the Farmer Boys team in January 2020 as senior vice president of operations, where he oversaw restaurant operations and field execution and helped to define strategic direction. Before joining Farmer Boys, he held executive roles at Del Taco Restaurants, The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf, El Pollo Loco and Taco Bell.

"I am truly humbled and excited to be leading this legacy brand. In the last three months, I have had the great privilege to watch true leadership from Karen while we have navigated through this unprecedented challenging time for both the world and the restaurant industry,"  Wetzel said in the release. "I have big shoes to fill in this new position, but I will work fervently alongside our talented team, franchisees and suppliers to continue Farmer Boys' calculated growth plan while building the next chapter of hospitality for Farmer Boys guests and team members."

Eadon joined Farmer Boys in 2014 as chief marketing officer and was promoted to president and COO in 2015. Under her leadership, Farmer Boys opened 12 restaurants, underwent a restaurant remodeling program, improved internal systems and processes to enable the brand to scale more efficiently, implemented a back-of-house inventory and data management system and upgraded its management team and overall talent pool.

"I have been truly blessed to have fulfilled so many dreams over the past 40 years, and I leave Farmer Boys with countless and fond memories," Eadon said in the release. "I have every bit of confidence in Dave's ability to continue leading the brand in the right direction and to allow Farmer Boys to reach new guests in both new and existing markets. He has years of proven operational experience that will take Farmer Boys to new heights."

Founded in 1981, Farmer Boys is a farm-to-table fast casual restaurant chain serving burgers in California and Nevada. It also offers all-day breakfast, stacked sandwiches, hand-chopped salads as well as hand-breaded zucchini sticks and onion rings.