Taco John's Strengthens Leadership Team with Strategic Appointment

Taco John's has revealed significant alterations to its leadership, including Kristin Nuss's promotion to General Counsel and Corporate Secretary and Tom Perella and Damian Hanft's welcoming as Vice Presidents of Technology and Human Resources, respectively.

Kristin Nuss, a seasoned legal expert, has been promoted to General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, a role she stepped into in January 2025. Nuss joined Taco John's in May 2021 and has a diverse legal background that spans civil litigation, insurance defense, and state government.

Newly appointed VP of Technology, Tom Perella, joined the Taco John's team in March 2025. Perella brings over two decades of experience in retail technology, with previous roles at GoTo Foods and Duck Donuts. His role will focus on refining and standardizing IT processes at Taco John's.

Damian Hanft joined Taco John's as Vice President of Human Resources in April 2025. Before joining Taco John's, Hanft was the head of talent at Inspire Brands and has held leadership positions in various fields, including talent management, learning and development, human resources, labor relations, and training. Hanft will be responsible for developing a robust HR strategy that aligns with Taco John's overall objectives.

These appointments come as Taco John's continues expanding from coast to coast. Taco John's Path to Ownership structure and optimized business model aim to ensure sustainable growth for the brand and investors. The focus is enhancing systems across all aspects, including onboarding, branding, and technology.

Taco John's operates nearly 350 locations across 22 states and has identified expansion opportunities in the Upper Midwest, Rocky Mountain regions, and high-growth suburban markets nationwide. The company's Franchise Disclosure Document reports an Average Unit Volume (AUV) of $1,881,809 for the top 25% of freestanding restaurants with drive-thru.