Staffing

Portillo's CMO to take helm of Giordano's as CEO

November 26, 2024

Current CEO of Giordano's Yorgo Koutsogiorgas will retire effective Dec. 9 but will continue to serve as a member of the Company's Board of Directors and Advisor. Nick Scarpino, who will depart his role as CMO of fast casual brand Portillo's next month, will join Giordano's as its CEO, according to a press release.

Under Koutsogiorgas' leadership, Giordano's doubled in size and expanded operations into nine other states aside from its core market of Illinois. Koutsogiorgas established a partnership with the Chicago Clubs and in the past five years also expanded the collab to include the Chicago Bulls and the Chicago Blackhawks.

"I am very proud of the work our team has done over the past 13 years to expand our operations, grow our revenue and successfully navigate several challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic, while exceeding the expectations of the company's stakeholders all along," Koutsogiorgas said in the press release. "The company is in a great position today, poised to finish 2024 with positive customer traffic and strong sales, compared to 2023. I am thrilled to have served the company during its 50th anniversary this year and look forward to seeing the brand thrive for another 50 years."

Scarpino brings 20 years of marketing expertise and 10 years of experience in the restaurant industry. As CMO of Portillo's, he led the team behind Portillo's online ordering platform and guided the launch of delivery at all Portillo's locations nationwide. He also oversees brand partnerships and served on the menu strategy team and real estate committee. Prior to joining Portillo's in 2015, he worked in digital advertising leadership roles at Google.

"As a life-long Chicagoan, I love Giordano's, and I'm honored to be the next leader of this beloved brand," Scarpino said in the press release. "I look forward to working with Yorgo and the rest of the Giordano's board, as well as the company's strong management team and partners, to continue to build upon its legacy and grow the brand across new channels and markets."

Giordano's was founded in 1974 and currently operates more than 60 restaurants.