Real Mex Restaurants Inc. has named Judd Tirnauer chief financial officer, the company said Monday, as it looks to add another brand to its portfolio.
Tirnauer will take over finance management for the owner of several full-service Mexican restaurants, including Chevys Fresh Mex, El Torito, Acapulco and Pink Taco. The brands operate 85 company and 12 franchised locations.
He also comes to a company looking to get bigger. Real Mex’s private-equity owner, Z Capital Partners, bought Pink Taco last year and reiterated its intention “to make a major acquisition to expand its national footprint.”
“Judd has earned a reputation for identifying key drivers that accelerate growth while optimizing costs,” Real Mex CEO Bryan Lockwood said in a statement. “I am confident that his insight and financial expertise will be an impactful addition to our team as we continue to improve performance and build on our sales momentum.”
Tirnauer joins Real Mex from the retailer Wet Seal, where he was executive vice president and CFO. Prior to that, he spent 15 years at another specialty retailer, Destination Maternity.
He joins a company that has started to generate sales momentum, five years after emerging from bankruptcy. The company said restaurants in California have generated 27 straight months of same-store sales growth.
“Real Mex has experienced significant momentum,” Tirnauer said in a statement.
Contact Jonathan Maze at [email protected]
Follow him on Twitter: @jonathanmaze
