Staffing

Qdoba names chief legal officer

Photo: Qdoba

January 12, 2026

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Qdoba has hired Cathy Tang as chief legal officer, a move intended to bolster the restaurant chain's aggressive plan to double its footprint over the next several years, said CEO John Cywinski.

Tang, who brings more than 25 years of experience in the restaurant and public company sectors, will oversee legal, compliance, risk management and corporate governance. She will also play a primary role in the brand's franchise strategy and transactions.

The appointment reunites Tang with Cywinski. Tang previously served as chief legal officer at KFC Corp. while Cywinski was the company's president.

"We are very fortunate to have an executive of Cathy's caliber join our talented leadership team," Cywinski said in a company press release. "Her blend of strategic insights, team collaboration, growth mindset and deep restaurant franchise experience will help guide us as we unlock the full potential of the Qdoba brand."

Tang most recently served as chief legal officer and corporate secretary at Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality Inc. Prior to that, she held the same titles at Krispy Kreme Inc. from 2020 to 2024, where she led the legal and governance oversight for the company's 2021 initial public offering.

Her resume also includes a 20-year tenure at Yum! Brands Inc., where she held various leadership roles, including global branding counsel and chief new business officer for KFC Global.

"It's a privilege to be working alongside CEO John Cywinski again and to partner with the Qdoba team and our franchisees to build on the strong foundation that makes this brand so special," Tang said in the release.

The leadership addition comes as San Diego-based Qdoba aims to double its size to roughly 1,600 locations by 2032. The company operates 840 restaurants across 45 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, Japan and South Korea.

Qdoba officials said the brand has over 650 development commitments and is targeting a pace of more than 100 new restaurant openings per year by 2027.

Tang holds a law degree from the Louis D. Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville and a bachelor's degree in economics from the University of Texas at Austin.