Whataburger, the renowned Texas-based burger chain, has announced the retirement of its CEO, Ed Nelson, who will be stepping down at the end of this year. The news was released earlier this week, with the San Antonio company confirming that Nelson, after a significant 20-year tenure with Whataburger, is set to retire. During his time, Nelson, who joined the company in 2004, has been instrumental in Whataburger's impressive growth. He held the positions of Controller, Chief Financial Officer in 2008, President in 2019, and ultimately CEO in 2020, as per the information obtained by KXAN.
Debbie Stroud, presently serving as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, has been named to succeed Nelson starting January 1. Stroud is prepared to fully embrace the challenge of leading Whataburger into the future. She brings a robust background to the role, previously holding the position of Senior Vice President of U.S. Retail Operations at Starbucks Coffee Company for five years and, before that, spending nearly three decades at McDonald's in key financial and operational roles. "I am honored to be selected as the next CEO of Whataburger, a family-founded, beloved brand with a strong legacy and fan base," Stroud was quoted in a KXAN report.
The leadership change comes as Whataburger continues an aggressive expansion strategy. Under Nelson's stewardship, the company weathered the pandemic, opened more than 250 restaurants, and expanded its reach to over 1,030 locations in 16 states. These moves significantly increased Whataburger's geographic footprint, and the chain now boasts annual sales exceeding $4 billion. Matthew Rose, Chairman of Whataburger, expressed the company's deep gratitude for Nelson's leadership, stating, "Ed’s passion for the Whataburger brand has been unparalleled," according to KXAN.
Stroud's appointment signals a clear intent to continue building on the success story Whataburger has cultivated over the years. With a track record from two of the world's largest restaurant chains, she is expected to offer a wealth of knowledge and operational savvy. Stroud told Express-News, "Working alongside Ed and our dedicated leadership team has been an extraordinary experience." Rose is confident in Stroud's capabilities, saying "We are excited for her to extend her energy and passion for building great teams and delivering extraordinary hospitality to customers across our expanding operations."
