Carrols chairman and CEO Accordino to retire by mid-year 2022

SYRACUSE, N.Y. — Carrols Restaurant Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAST) on Thursday announced that Daniel Accordino — the company’s chairman, president, and CEO — will be retiring as CEO and president by June 30, 2022.

He will also be stepping down as chairman and as a member of the board of directors at or prior to the effective time of his retirement, the company said.

The Carrols board is conducting a search to identify a new CEO and is working with an executive-search firm to assist in the process.

Syracuse–based Carrols is the nation’s largest Burger King franchisee.

Accordino, 71, has been the company CEO since January 1, 2012 and board chairman since Jan. 1, 2015. An employee of Carrols since 1972, Accordino has served in a variety of senior leadership positions, including as president since February 1993; COO from February 1993 to December 2011, and executive VP of operations from December 1986 to February 1993.

“With Carrols well positioned for continued success, I believe now is the right time — both for me and Carrols — to begin a transition to the next generation of leadership,” Accordino said in a statement. “I look forward to continuing to work with the board and our dedicated management team over the next nine months to identify an exemplary leader for our business and ensure a successful transition.”

Carrols is one of the largest restaurant franchisees in North America. It is currently operating 1,027 Burger King restaurants in 23 states as well as 65 Popeyes restaurants in seven states. Carrols has operated Burger King restaurants since 1976 and Popeyes restaurants since 2019.