Taco John’s Appoints Ian Poole as VP to Drive Franchise Growth
Taco John’s, a prominent Mexican quick-service restaurant chain, has strengthened its leadership team with the appointment of Ian Poole as Vice President of Development. A seasoned professional in business development and franchising, Poole brings close to two decades of experience driving expansion for major restaurant and franchise brands.
A Strategic Move to Accelerate Growth
Before joining Taco John’s, Poole served as Vice President of Development at Subway, where he led North American development efforts. In that role, he oversaw franchise sales, real estate, construction and design, equipment, operations, and leasing for a network of more than 22,000 locations. He has also contributed to the growth of brands such as Dunkin’ and Planet Fitness. At Taco John’s, Poole will focus on supporting brand expansion while improving franchisee success through enhancements in onboarding, real estate strategy, and construction processes.
“Taco John’s has established a strong foundation with a clear focus on supporting franchisees, and I’m excited to help drive the brand’s next phase of growth,” said Ian Poole, VP of Development.
“My priority is to expand the brand thoughtfully and sustainably while providing streamlined, end-to-end support for every franchise owner. We’re building a system that enables both new and existing franchisees to grow with confidence, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”
Poole’s background also includes hands-on experience as a franchisee with Burger King, Popeyes, and Arby’s under Ambrosia QSR. His collaborative leadership style is centered on strengthening relationships across the franchise network.
“Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John’s, noted that Poole’s appointment marks an important step in advancing the company’s franchise development efforts. His dual perspective as both an executive and a franchise owner provides valuable insight into refining systems that set franchisees up for long-term success. As the brand builds on recent operational investments, his expertise is expected to play a key role in sustaining momentum.”
Renewed Focus on Franchisee Support
Following a year of foundational progress, Taco John’s entered 2026 positioned for strategic, data-driven growth. Investments in the brand’s Path to Ownership initiative are giving franchisees access to expanded resources, succession planning, and improved communication across the system.
The company is also prioritizing non-traditional formats as a key growth avenue, planning pilot locations with experienced operators to evaluate performance and scale responsibly. Future initiatives include menu optimization for smaller spaces, simplified labor models, performance standards for high-traffic environments, and targeted marketing strategies tailored to these formats. This approach allows entry into high-demand locations with lower capital requirements while complementing traditional restaurant development.
Taco John’s continues to invest in its development infrastructure and franchise support systems, presenting an attractive opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking to expand their portfolios with an established concept.
With more than 325 restaurants across 21 states, the brand sees strong growth opportunities in the Upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions. Both new and multi-unit operators are being offered customized support to scale efficiently and sustainably.
According to the company’s Franchise Disclosure Document, the top 25% of freestanding Taco John’s restaurants with drive-thru report an average unit volume (AUV) of $1,889,495.
Click here to know more about Taco John's franchise opportunities.
A Strategic Move to Accelerate Growth
Before joining Taco John’s, Poole served as Vice President of Development at Subway, where he led North American development efforts. In that role, he oversaw franchise sales, real estate, construction and design, equipment, operations, and leasing for a network of more than 22,000 locations. He has also contributed to the growth of brands such as Dunkin’ and Planet Fitness. At Taco John’s, Poole will focus on supporting brand expansion while improving franchisee success through enhancements in onboarding, real estate strategy, and construction processes.
“Taco John’s has established a strong foundation with a clear focus on supporting franchisees, and I’m excited to help drive the brand’s next phase of growth,” said Ian Poole, VP of Development.
“My priority is to expand the brand thoughtfully and sustainably while providing streamlined, end-to-end support for every franchise owner. We’re building a system that enables both new and existing franchisees to grow with confidence, and I look forward to the opportunities ahead.”
Poole’s background also includes hands-on experience as a franchisee with Burger King, Popeyes, and Arby’s under Ambrosia QSR. His collaborative leadership style is centered on strengthening relationships across the franchise network.
“Heather Neary, President and CEO of Taco John’s, noted that Poole’s appointment marks an important step in advancing the company’s franchise development efforts. His dual perspective as both an executive and a franchise owner provides valuable insight into refining systems that set franchisees up for long-term success. As the brand builds on recent operational investments, his expertise is expected to play a key role in sustaining momentum.”
Renewed Focus on Franchisee Support
Following a year of foundational progress, Taco John’s entered 2026 positioned for strategic, data-driven growth. Investments in the brand’s Path to Ownership initiative are giving franchisees access to expanded resources, succession planning, and improved communication across the system.
The company is also prioritizing non-traditional formats as a key growth avenue, planning pilot locations with experienced operators to evaluate performance and scale responsibly. Future initiatives include menu optimization for smaller spaces, simplified labor models, performance standards for high-traffic environments, and targeted marketing strategies tailored to these formats. This approach allows entry into high-demand locations with lower capital requirements while complementing traditional restaurant development.
Taco John’s continues to invest in its development infrastructure and franchise support systems, presenting an attractive opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking to expand their portfolios with an established concept.
With more than 325 restaurants across 21 states, the brand sees strong growth opportunities in the Upper Midwest and Rocky Mountain regions. Both new and multi-unit operators are being offered customized support to scale efficiently and sustainably.
According to the company’s Franchise Disclosure Document, the top 25% of freestanding Taco John’s restaurants with drive-thru report an average unit volume (AUV) of $1,889,495.
Click here to know more about Taco John's franchise opportunities.
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