Applebee's president to depart; CEO to serve in interim
The president of one of Dine Brands’ leading restaurant chains is stepping down.
Tony Moralejo will step down as president of Applebee’s, effective March 4, and will serve as an advisor to the company through June 4. John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands, will assume the role of interim Applebee’s president while continuing in his current capacity as chief executive.
The company has initiated a nationwide search for a new leader for Applebee’s. In the meantime, Peyton will oversee the brand, collaborating with the executive team and franchisees to capitalize on growth opportunities across key areas, including digital experience, menu innovation, in-restaurant dining and domestic expansion.
Peyton joined Dine Brands in January 2021 as CEO. Before joining the company, he served as president and CEO of Realogy Franchise Group, following a 17-year tenure as a senior executive at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
"Tony and I share a deep respect for the DNA of Applebee’s and we are all grateful for his contributions since he took on this role two years ago,” said Peyton. “He has navigated a challenging economic environment, led an outstanding team, and strengthened our relationships with franchisees. I’m incredibly thankful for his leadership — he embodies what great leadership looks like. I look forward to building on his work and accelerating our plans to grow the brand and achieve superior results.”
[READ MORE: IHOP president to retire, Yum! Brands leader named successor]
Moralejo was appointed to the position of president of Applebee’s in January 2023, previously serving as president of international & global development at Dine Brands for three years. Before joining the company, he spent nearly seven years in leadership roles at Church’s Chicken.
"It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve as president of this exceptional brand,” said Moralejo. “Leading this remarkable team and working alongside our dedicated franchise partners over the past two years has been an incredible experience.”
Based in Pasadena, Calif., Dine Brands Global, Inc. operates restaurants under the Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar, IHOP and Fuzzy's Taco Shop brands. As of Sep. 30, 2024, these three brands consisted of over 3,500 restaurants across 19 international markets.
