Darden Restaurants veteran named Portillo's CFO

A Chicago-based fast-casual chain has added a finance veteran to its C-suite.

Portillo’s, known for its Italian beef sandwiches and Chicago-style hot dogs, has named Kevin Kalicak as chief financial officer and treasurer, effective Sept. 7. He will oversee the company’s finance organization, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, investor relations, internal audit, tax, supply chain and other corporate financial functions.

Kalicak joins Portillo’s bringing decades of financial leadership within the restaurant industry, serving in various roles with Darden Restaurants for more than 25 years. Most recently, he served as senior VP of finance for Olive Garden, where he was responsible for the financial leadership of a brand with more than 900 restaurants and $5 billion in annual sales.

“Kevin is a proven financial leader with deep restaurant industry expertise, a strong track record of driving profitable growth and a collaborative leadership style that aligns well with the direction of the Portillo’s brand,” said Brett Patterson, president and CEO of Portillo’s, who took the reins of the company in February. “As we refine and execute our strategy, his experience leading high-performing finance organizations to support operational excellence and ultimately drive shareholder value will be instrumental as we strengthen our business and position Portillo’s for long-term growth.”