Jack in the Box CEO resigns; interim leader named
Jack in the Box Inc. is set to begin searching for a new chief executive.
The quick-serve restaurant chain has announced that CEO Darin Harris has resigned, and has accepted a new position outside of the restaurant industry. The board of directors appointed executive VP and CFO Lance Tucker as interim principal executive officer, effective Feb. 24. Harris will remain as a consultant through March 14, 2025, to ensure a smooth leadership transition.
Harris spent nearly five years as CEO of Jack in the Box Inc., joining the company in June 2020. His previous experience includes serving as CEO, North America of The Regus Group, and CEO of CiCi’s Pizza.
Tucker has served as the company’s financial chief since Jan. 13, 2025, and previously served in this same role at Jack in the Box Inc. from March 2018 to September 2020. A restaurant industry veteran with more than 20 years of corporate finance experience, Tucker was the chief financial officer of CKE Restaurants Holdings, Inc., the parent company of the Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s brands, from September 2020 until January 2022.
Prior to joining Jack in the Box Inc. in March 2018 as chief financial officer, Tucker held several senior leadership positions during his combined 14-year tenure at Papa John’s International, Inc., including chief financial officer & treasurer, chief administrative officer, and senior VP of strategy & chief of staff.
“On behalf of the company, I want to thank Darin for his contributions as CEO for the past five years,” said David L. Goebel, chairman of Jack in the Box Inc.’s board of directors. “With Lance’s multi-faceted, strategic expertise over the last 20 years at the executive level, we are excited to welcome him as the interim CEO. The board is confident in Lance’s ability to build upon the existing foundation in a way that balances our growth and financial goals, while ensuring that the company remains competitive in the rapidly evolving quick-service restaurant landscape.”
[READ MORE: Jack in the Box Inc. names new operations leader]
While Tucker serves as interim principal executive officer, senior VP & controller Dawn Hooper will assume the role of interim principal financial officer. Hooper has been with Jack in the Box Inc. for 24 years and held various senior leadership positions within finance during that time. She served as principal financial officer from August 2020 to January 2021, February 2023 to August 2023 and November 2024 to January 2025.
Founded and headquartered in San Diego, Jack in the Box Inc. operates approximately 2,200 Jack in the Box restaurants across 22 states, and approximately 600 Del Taco restaurants across 17 states.
