Chilango promotes Richard Franks to managing director

Mexican fast food group Chilango has promoted its operations director Richard Franks to managing director, following the approval of the company’s CVA last month.

In September 2019 co-founders Eric Partaker and Dan Houghton agreed to step down as co-CEOs to reduce the company’s central costs. Houghton’s resignation took effect on 1 October 2019 while Partaker remained until a new MD, Frank (pictured, below), was found.

In a join statement Partaker and Houghton said: “A search began in October last year, to appoint a managing director to lead the business through the next stage of its journey. We are delighted that Richard Franks has been appointed to this position. Richard has been a member of Chilango’s senior leadership team for over four years and was most recently its operations director.

"During his time at Chilango he has overseen consistent annual like-for-like growth across its restaurant estate and implemented a number of critical innovations to improve the way the operation works. His in-depth knowledge of Chilango and the wider food retail landscape, coupled with his proven track record made him the ideal candidate.”

Franks joined the firm in 2016 as head of operations, before being promoted to director of operations in 2018. He previously worked as interim account director for contract caterer Gather & Gather and before that at Apostrophe Cafés as managing director. He had also spent a year at Harris + Hoole in operations having started his career at Eat where he spent more than seven-and-half years before reaching the position of regional manager.

Chilango was founded in 2007, there are 12 venues across the UK. Partaker and Houghton will remain on the Chilango board of directors.