Qdoba to promote COO Keith Guilbault to presidentQdoba to promote COO Keith Guilbault to president

Tim Casey is resigning as brand president of Qdoba Mexican Eats in June and will be replaced by the chain’s chief operating officer Keith Guilbault, the parent company said Wednesday.

Casey, who lead Qdoba through a brand repositioning over the past three years, is stepping down to pursue other interests, the company said.

“We’re grateful to Tim for the outstanding job he did in overseeing the strategic repositioning of our Qdoba brand,” said Lenny Comma, Jack in the Box Inc.’s chair and CEO. “Shortly after joining the company in 2013, Tim oversaw a comprehensive review of Qdoba’s brand strategy and took immediate steps to strengthen the brand, including closing underperforming locations, driving menu innovation, developing a new restaurant prototype and rolling out a customer-friendly, all-inclusive pricing structure.”

Keith Guilbault <br/> Photo: Qdoba Mexican Eats

Guilbault was named chief operating officer in March. He was previously senior vice president and chief marketing officer for sister brand Jack in the Box, which he joined in 2004 as a regional vice president in central California.

He climbed the ladder as division vice president of brand innovation and regional marketing, division vice president of operations initiatives and vice president of franchising. Before being promoted to CMO in 2013, he was vice president of menu and innovation.

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The leadership change was announced as Jack in the Box Inc. reported flat systemwide same-store sales for Jack in the Box for the April 10-ended second quarter. At company units, sale-store sales declined 1 percent, but franchise units saw an increase of 0.3 percent.

Qdoba’s same-store sales were up 2.1 percent systemwide, including a 3.1 percent increase at company restaurants and a 1.2 percent increase at franchise units. The company same-store sales increase reflected a 3.7 percent increase in transactions as well as growth in catering sales.

Net earnings for Jack in the Box Inc. were $28.7 million, or 85 cents per share, compared with $23 million, or 61 cents per share, a year ago.

Revenues totaled $361.1 million, up from $358.1 million a year ago.

The San Diego-based company ended the quarter with 2,251 Jack in the Box and 683 Qdoba restaurants.

Correction: May 11, 2016 An earlier version of this story gave the incorrect title for Guilbault's appointment in March. He was named chief operating officer. 

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