Stephen Carley has resigned his post as president and chief executive officer of El Pollo Loco to become CEO for Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, effective Sept. 13. In the interim, Dennis Mullen will continue to serve as Red Robin CEO. Steve Sather, El Pollo Loco's senior vice president of operations, will assume the role of acting president and CEO of El Pollo Loco upon Carley's departure.

Carley became El Pollo Loco's president and CEO in April 2001. Prior to that, Carley served in various capacities, including various senior management positions at Taco Bell Corporation. Earlier in his career, he served as president of Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park and Citywalk, a division of Universal Studios, Inc., and spent several years in brand management and operations with General Mills, Inc., The Pillsbury Company and PepsiCo Inc.

Sather joined El Pollo Loco in Jan. 2006 as vice president of operations. Prior to joining El Pollo Loco, Sather was senior vice president of retail operations for Great Circle Family Foods, LLC, the franchise operator of Krispy Kreme Doughnuts in Southern California. Earlier, Sather was chief operating officer for Rubio's Restaurants, Inc. and held senior management positions with Rally's Hamburgers, La Salsa Holding Company and Taco Bell.