Taco John's names new development VP
A quick-serve Mexican restaurant chain is adding an industry veteran to its leadership team as it plots new growth.
Taco John’s has named Ian Poole as its new VP of development, bringing nearly 20 years of restaurant and franchise brand growth to the chain. In his role, he will focus on supporting Taco John's expansion and enhancing franchisee success through improvements across onboarding, real estate and construction.
Poole most recently served as VP of development for sandwich giant Subway for nearly two years, where he led the North American development team and oversaw franchise sales, real estate, construction & design, equipment, business operations and leasing for over 22,000 restaurants.
"Ian's addition to the team is a landmark appointment as we continue to strengthen our franchisee development systems and path to ownership," said Heather Neary, president and CEO of Taco John's. "His perspective as both an executive and franchisee offer invaluable insights into how we can continue to enhance our foundation to ensure each franchisee is set up for success. As we continue to build off the momentum from last year's operational investments, we are excited to have Ian's expertise and support on the team."
Prior to joining Subway, Poole served as VP of real estate and construction at Planet Fitness after serving as the chief development officer at Ambrosia QSR. Previously he spent more than 13 years at Dunkin’ in a variety of development roles.
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Taco John’s says the brand is primed to expand in 2026 through its Path to Ownership franchise system, especially in the Rocky Mountain and Upper Midwest regions. The brand has also identified expansion into non-traditional formats as a key growth pillar, with plans to pilot locations alongside experienced operators to "validate performance and expand responsibly."
"Taco John's has built a strong foundation with a clear commitment to franchisee support, and I'm eager to help accelerate the brand's expansion momentum," said Poole. "Stepping into this role, my goal is to expand Taco John's footprint in an intentional, sustainable way, delivering streamlined end-to-end support for every owner in our network. We're creating a system for both new and existing franchisees to scale with confidence, and looking ahead, I am excited for the growth that's to come and the opportunities ahead for the brand."
Founded in 1969 in Cheyenne, Wyo., Taco John’s operates more than 325 restaurants in 21 states.
