Staffing

Sbarro names Mario Bojorquez president, North America

Photo: Sbarro

May 17, 2024

Sbarro has appointed Mario Bojorquez as its president, North America, according to a press release.

Bojorquez, a seasoned restaurant executive, joins Sbarro from Restaurant Brands International where he spent the last 11 years. Most recently, he served as head of Asia-Pacific operations for Burger King, Popeyes, Tim Hortons and Firehouse Subs, based in Singapore. In that role, he guided the company through the pandemic, oversaw rapid restaurant expansion and implemented operational improvements that boosted customer satisfaction and franchisee profitability.

"Mario is a talented restaurant executive with a proven track record of results and a solid understanding of franchising in our industry," David Karam, Sbarro CEO and chairman of the board, said in the release. "He is a great cultural fit for Sbarro. His strong people focus and industry expertise will complement the experience and skills of our leadership team as we continue to grow and strengthen our brand."

Prior to his role in Asia, Bojorquez served as head of marketing for Burger King Europe, Middle East, and Africa, and held various domestic positions at RBI, including general manager of the Midwest division where he oversaw 1,500 Burger King restaurants. He also has experience as a restaurant entrepreneur, having co-founded a sandwich concept in Miami.

"I am honored to be joining an iconic brand with a rich legacy of serving handmade, freshly prepared, quality products. I couldn't be more excited about the opportunity to work with David and the team to help continue growing Sbarro by supporting our company operators and franchisees and bringing the best food to our guests; every shift, every day," Bojorquez said in the release. "Despite already being the leader in the impulse pizza category, there is a tremendous space to continue scaling our footprint, and I am looking forward to accelerating our restaurant development, supporting our operations, and strengthening our brand."

Sbarro has experienced significant growth in recent years, opening over 200 new restaurants globally in the past two years, including expansion into new markets like Colombia, Panama, Poland, Denmark, and North Macedonia. The brand is on track to open over 100 new restaurants in North America alone in 2024.