Fast-food franchise Jack in the Box (NASDAQ: JACK) operates approximately 2,115 restaurants across 25 states, Mexico and Guam, and has been navigating a leadership transition since earlier in 2026. On August 20, the San Diego-based franchise chain announced the appointment of Taylor Montgomery, former Global Chief Brand Officer at Taco Bell, as President, effective September 14, with a planned move to the CEO role within 12 months.
Executive Chairman Mark King took on the Interim CEO role earlier in 2026 as the company worked through a debt refinancing and addressed operational priorities across its franchise system. Third quarter 2026 results, reported on August 12, reflected the chain’s efforts to rebuild traffic and improve restaurant-level economics. The Montgomery appointment follows a CEO succession plan the board had previously communicated to investors, and it represents a significant external hire at a moment when the brand is repositioning its strategy across a system heavily concentrated in California, Texas and the broader Sunbelt.
Taylor Montgomery: $18 Billion in Sales and a Decade at Yum! Brands
Montgomery’s most recent role was Global Chief Brand Officer at Taco Bell, where he oversaw a network of more than 9,000 restaurants and $18 billion in systemwide annual sales. During his tenure at the Yum! Brands-owned chain, Taco Bell reported 7% sales growth, 3% restaurant growth and 8% profit growth in a single fiscal year. He was named to Forbes’ World’s Most Influential CMOs list in 2024 and previously held brand strategy roles at Procter & Gamble across multiple consumer product lines.
Jack in the Box at a glance
Approximately 2,115 restaurants across 25 states, Mexico and Guam. Founded in San Diego, California in 1951. The chain operates primarily through a franchised model and trades on NASDAQ under the ticker JACK.
Jack in the Box
Live Unboxed
- Restaurant
- Liquid capital: $750000
Taco Bell
Live Más
- Restaurant
- Liquid capital: $
Franchisee Profitability at the Center of the New Role
The President position has been defined around three stated priorities: sustainable same-store sales growth, improved franchisee profitability, and long-term competitive positioning for the brand. Franchisee economics have been a recurring pressure point at Jack in the Box, with operators navigating elevated input costs and traffic shifts in key West Coast and Sunbelt markets. The hire of an executive with Taco Bell’s track record of franchisee-level profit growth signals an intent to apply that operating discipline to the Jack in the Box network.
A 12-Month Timeline to the CEO Seat
Montgomery’s appointment comes with a structured succession plan. Jack in the Box’s board has confirmed he will move into the full CEO role within 12 months of his September 14 start date and will join the board of directors at that point. Mark King will remain Executive Chairman after the handover, providing continuity during the transition. The approach is intended to maintain stability across a franchise network of approximately 2,115 restaurants while the incoming executive builds familiarity with the brand’s operations and franchisee relationships. Montgomery’s statement on the appointment framed the near-term work as performance stabilization, citing “same-store sales growth” and “stronger restaurant-level execution” as immediate priorities.
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