Taco Del Mar names new president, CEOTaco Del Mar names new president, CEO

Lisa Jennings

SEATTLE Taco Del Mar, the 244-unit Mexican fast-casual chain, has named former Dunkin’ Brands and Taco Bell executive Larry Destro as its new president and chief executive.

Destro, who most recently served as president of CB Manufacturing and Sales and taught business courses at the University of Dayton in Ohio, replaces Taco Del Mar’s founder James Schmidt, Taco Del Mar said Friday. Schmidt stepped down as president and chief executive last September to focus on the development of a new concept, Paddy Coyne’s Irish Pub.

At the time of Schmidt’s departure, Taco Del Mar’s chief operating officer, Kevin Hansen, was named president, but officials said Hansen left the company a few weeks ago for reasons they did not explain.

Aveteran of the foodservice industry, Destro previously served as president of Dunkin’ Brands international division for both Baskin-Robbins and Dunkin’ Donuts. Destro also worked at Taco Bell for 13 years, spending five years as vice president of operations for the chain’s Northwest market.

Known for its Mondo Burritos, the mostly franchised Taco Del Mar chain is based in Seattle.

Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected].