Name: Andrew Rebhun
New title: Chief experience officer, Cava
Previous title: Chief marketing officer, El Pollo Loco
Cava hired Andrew Rebhun as chief experience officer effective May 8, according to a LinkedIn post from Rebhun. Rebhun had previously worked as chief marketing officer at El Pollo Loco since January 2022, and spent about three and a half years with the chicken chain in total. According to an earlier post on LinkedIn, Rebhun led El Pollo Loco’s digital transformation.
As chief experience officer, Rebhun will direct “the communications, creative, digital and marketing teams,” according to his LinkedIn post. It’s unclear what, other than the title, differentiates this position from a traditional CMO post.
Cava did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
At El Pollo Loco, Rebhun led the chain in adding new digital channels, like the GPS-enabled curbside pickup options it deployed in 2020. In April, El Pollo Loco redesigned its rewards offerings around a tier-based loyalty program.
Cava, meanwhile, has been working to grow its presence since acquiring Zoës Kitchen in 2018, flipping some suburban units to Cava restaurants to increase the brand’s reach outside of major cities. The chain has also invested in AI-powered personalization. In February 2023, Cava filed papers with the Securities and Exchange Commission indicating the chain was considering an IPO.
