Los Angeles, California, October 2024 – Bjorn Erland has joined El Pollo Loco, Inc. as the new Chief People Officer, where he will lead the human resources functions for the publicly traded restaurant company with over 500 restaurants and $1 billion in system sales. His extensive experience will support the company’s growth and enhance its organizational culture.
Before joining El Pollo Loco, Bjorn Erland served as Senior Vice President of Human Resources at BrandSafway, where he led HR for three operating divisions globally, overseeing 40,000 employees across 30 countries. During his three-year tenure, he contributed to strategic HR management for the company’s $5 billion revenue business, ensuring alignment with its global expansion goals.
Prior to his role at BrandSafway, Bjorn worked for Yum! Brands for over 11 years in various leadership roles. As Vice President of People and Experience at Taco Bell, he led HR operations for 900+ company-owned restaurants and 25,000 employees. He was also responsible for organizational development, training, and total rewards strategies across the brand. His earlier roles at Yum! included Senior Director of HR Excellence and Director of Training and Field HR at KFC.
Earlier in his career, Bjorn held key HR positions at CNO Financial Group, where he served as Director of Recruitment, and at Sara Lee, where he worked as a Senior Recruiter. He played a vital role in developing talent strategies and recruitment frameworks for both companies, helping drive organizational efficiency and success.
Bjorn’s HR journey began at Sears, where he was Human Resources Manager, and PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), where he held the position of Senior Associate – Campus Recruiting. His recruitment expertise and HR leadership at these organizations helped shape his strong foundation in talent management and HR operations.
About El Pollo Loco, Inc.:
Founded in 1980 on Alvarado Street in Los Angeles, El Pollo Loco is known for its famous citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken. Over four decades, it has grown to over 490 restaurants across six states, becoming a staple of L.A. culture. The company remains dedicated to providing fresh and innovative L.A. Mex cuisine through family dinners and Mexican entrees.
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