News

Fiesta Restaurant Group promotes VP to CIO role

December 20, 2017

Fiesta Restaurant Group, the parent company of Taco Cabana and Pollo Tropical, has promoted Ryan Nowlin to the newly created position of chief information officer.

Nowlin, who was vice president of information technology since September 2012, will be responsible for all IT information systems and programs in alignment with the company's goals, according to a company press release.

"Ryan Nowlin has been instrumental in the successful development and execution of a number of programs, including new digital menu platforms and off-site consumption strategies, and, more notably, with helping transform the Taco Cabana and Pollo Tropical brands," Richard Stockinger, president and CEO of Fiesta Restaurant Group, said in the release. "By creating this new position of chief information officer, we will ensure that technology continues to be an integral part of our overall strategy for brand renewal and growth as we head into 2018."

In his former position, Nowlin developed and executed a multi-year technology plan that resulted in a cost-effective and secure infrastructure while leading brand initiatives to build customer engagement, drive sales/transaction growth and support expansion of 40 restaurants per year, Stockinger said. 

Nowlin also partnered with the chain's marketing department to create an integrated digital strategy that resulted in dynamic new websites, an integrated customer marketing database with 650,000 active opt-in email/SMS subscribers, a social media presence and brand loyalty programs, according to the release.

Nowlin graduated with a bachelor's degree in information technology from the University of Phoenix in 2004 and an MBA from Southern Methodist University in 2006.