Lang to retire as chairman and CEO; Comma takes helm. 

Jack in the Box Inc. (NASDAQ: JACK) announced that Linda A. Lang will retire as chairman of the board and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2014. Leonard Comma, currently president and COO, will become chairman and CEO.

Since joining the company in 1984, Lang has held various positions of increasing responsibility in marketing, operations and finance, including officer-level positions since 1996. In 2003 she was promoted to president and COO, holding those positions until she was elected Chairman and CEO in 2005.

Comma joined Jack in the Box Inc. in 2001 as director of convenience store and fuel operations for the company's proprietary chain of Quick Stuff convenience stores, which was sold in 2009. In 2004 he was promoted to division vice president of Quick Stuff Operations, and in 2006 Comma was promoted to regional vice president of Quick Stuff and the company's Southern California region. From 2007 to 2012 he took on roles of increasing responsibility within the company.