The longtime Carrols Restaurant Group Inc. CEO and president, Daniel Accordino, will be retiring in nine months, and the board has launched a search for a successor, the company said Friday.
Accordino, 71, had served as CEO of the Syracuse, N.Y.-based franchisee of Burger King and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen since January 2012. He will retire on June 30, 2022, the company said.
Accordino started with Carrols in 1972. He has served as chairman of the board since January 2015.
“With Carrols well positioned for continued success, I believe now is the right time — both for me and Carrols — to begin a transition to the next generation of leadership,” said Accordino in a statement.
“I look forward to continuing to work with the board and our dedicated management team over the next nine months to identify an exemplary leader for our business and ensure a successful transition,” he said.
The company said Accordino will step down as chairman and as a board member at or prior to the effective time of his retirement.
“The Carrols board is conducting a comprehensive search to identify a new CEO and is engaging a leading executive search firm to assist in the process,” the company said.
Accordino has served in a variety of senior leadership positions at Carrols, including as president since February 1993, chief operating officer from February 1993 to December 2011, and executive vice president for operations from December 1986 to February 1993.
“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Dan for his 50 years of dedicated service to Carrols,” said David Harris, a Carrols board member.
“Dan has been instrumental in helping transform Carrols from a regional quick-service restaurant chain to the largest Burger King franchisee in the United States,” Harris said. “The board is committed to finding a world-class successor for Dan and is grateful to have his continued leadership and guidance throughout the succession planning and transition process.”
Carrols operates 1,027 Burger King restaurants in 23 states as well as 65 Popeyes restaurants in seven states. Carrols has been a Burger King franchisee since 1976 and a Popeyes franchisee since 2019.
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