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Companies El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.

El Pollo Loco (LOCO): executive pay, fiscal 2025

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CEO total pay$3,539,320CEO Elizabeth Williams · source
Say-on-pay support99.15%Latest vote · source
CEO vs. named peers67th pct.Of 15 peer CEOs
CEO pay ratio178:1To the median employee · source

CEO pay, last three years

  • $4,712,877FY2024
  • $3,539,320FY2025

CEO total pay was $3,539,320 in fiscal 2025, down from $4,712,877 in fiscal 2024.

FY2025: salary $750,950 · bonus $0 · stock awards $1,434,000 · option awards $717,000

Executives and directors

Frequently asked questions

Who was the highest-paid executive at El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. in fiscal 2025?
As disclosed, Elizabeth Williams (Chief Executive Officer) was the highest-paid executive at El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. in fiscal 2025, with total compensation of $3,539,320.
How does El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s chief executive pay compare to its disclosed peer group?
As disclosed, Elizabeth Williams's total compensation ranked at the 67th percentile of El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s disclosed peer group.
What is El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s CEO-to-median employee pay ratio?
As disclosed, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s CEO-to-median employee pay ratio was 178:1.
How did shareholders vote on El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s executive compensation?
As disclosed, 99.15% of shareholders supported El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s executive compensation in the latest say-on-pay vote.
How much does El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. spend in total on board compensation for fiscal 2025?
As disclosed, El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. reported total board compensation of $1,241,250 for fiscal 2025.

Answers are drawn only from the figures disclosed in this brief and cited to their location in the source filing. Where a figure required for an answer is not disclosed, that is stated rather than estimated.

Full detail

Every table from the filing. Open any section.

Summary compensation table
Named executive officerSalaryBonusStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentivePension / NQDCAll otherTotal
Elizabeth Williams$750,950$0$1,434,000$717,000$581,162$0$56,208$3,539,320
Chief Executive Officer
Ira Fils438,8000400,000200,000253,851055,7881,348,439
Chief Financial Officer
Maria Hollandsworth517,7860250,000125,000266,749045,3761,204,911
Former President and Chief Operating Officer

A dash means the company reported no figure in that column; 0 means it reported zero. Figures are as printed in the filing, without adjustment.

Three-year trend — total compensation per named executive

Named executive officerFY2025 totalFY2024 totalFY2023 totalΔ FY2024→2025
Elizabeth Williams$3,539,320$4,712,877—↓ −1,173,557
Ira Fils1,348,4391,363,6891,359,787↓ −15,250
Maria Hollandsworth1,204,9112,069,796983,361↓ −864,885

Prior-year totals as disclosed in the corresponding proxy; deltas are computed values with the derivation shown in the register.

Incentive-plan design — the Compensation Discussion & Analysis

The company adheres to a pay-for-performance philosophy, aiming to attract, retain, and motivate employees while holding executives accountable for company performance through variable compensation. The program aligns management interests with stockholders by utilizing short-term and long-term incentive components, including equity that vests over time, ensuring that compensation is tied to the achievement of specific financial and strategic goals.

CEO STI target (% of salary)100%
CEO LTI target (% of salary)—
Independent consultantSemler Brossy
Clawback policytrue
Anti-hedgingtrue
Anti-pledgingtrue
Equity grants and outstanding awards

Grants of plan-based awards — fiscal year 2025

ExecutiveAwardGrant dateThresholdTargetGrantedMaximumGrant-date fair value
Elizabeth WilliamsOTHER2025-03-11——145,369—$717,000
Ira FilsRSA2025-03-11——19,194—200,000
Elizabeth WilliamsPSU2025-03-1134,38968,778—137,556717,000
Elizabeth WilliamsRSA2025-03-11——68,778—717,000
Maria HollandsworthPSU2025-03-115,99811,996—23,992125,000
Maria HollandsworthRSU2025-03-11——11,996—125,000
Ira FilsOTHER2025-03-11——40,568—200,000
Ira FilsPSU2025-03-119,59719,194—38,388200,000
Maria HollandsworthOPTION2025-03-11——25,355—125,000

Vehicle mix — grant-date fair value by award type

Named executive officerTime-vested (RSU)Performance-vested (PSU)Options / SARs% performance-vested
Elizabeth Williams$0$717,000$0100.0%
Ira Fils0200,0000100.0%
Maria Hollandsworth125,000125,000125,00033.3%

% performance-vested = PSU grant-date fair value ÷ (RSU + PSU + Options), a computed value with the derivation shown in the register.

Outstanding equity awards at fiscal year-end 2025

ExecutiveAwardShares unvestedExercise priceMarket value unvested
Elizabeth WilliamsRSU1,281—$13,400
Elizabeth WilliamsRSU2,563—24,700
Maria HollandsworthPSU5,998—62,739
Ira FilsPSU9,597—100,384
Maria HollandsworthRSU11,996—125,000
Ira FilsRSU13,369—139,840
Ira FilsRSU13,787—144,317
Elizabeth WilliamsPSU13,845—144,819
Ira FilsRSU17,925—187,495
Ira FilsRSU19,194—200,769
Ira FilsPSU19,194—200,769
Ira FilsOption28,8029.06—
Elizabeth WilliamsRSU33,822—353,778
Elizabeth WilliamsPSU34,389—359,709
Ira FilsOption35,71410.46—
Ira FilsOption40,56810.42—
Elizabeth WilliamsOption58,14010.32—
Elizabeth WilliamsRSU64,531—674,994
Elizabeth WilliamsRSU68,778—719,418
Elizabeth WilliamsPSU68,778—719,418
Elizabeth WilliamsOption128,57110.46—
Elizabeth WilliamsOption145,36910.42—
Ira FilsPSU327,600—3,426,692
Maria HollandsworthPSU344,250—3,600,851
Elizabeth WilliamsPSU750,000—7,844,997
Director compensation
DirectorCash feesStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveAll otherTotal
William R. FloydIndependent · Departed during FY$115,000$140,000———$255,000
Samuel N. BorgeseIndependent · Departed during FY90,00090,000———180,000
Douglas J. BabbIndependent · Board Chair85,00090,000———175,000
Nancy Faginas-CodyIndependent · Audit Committee · Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee (Chair) · ESG Committee82,50090,000———172,500
Deborah GonzalezIndependent · Compensation Committee (Chair) · Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee · ESG Committee75,00090,000———165,000
Mark BullerIndependent75,00090,000———165,000
Joe TaylorIndependent · Audit Committee (Chair) · Compensation Committee38,75090,000———128,750
Elizabeth WilliamsEmployee director—————0
Frank GarridoIndependent · Compensation Committee · Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee · Partial-year service · Newly elected——————
Robert D. WrightIndependent · Audit Committee · Compensation Committee · Partial-year service · Newly elected——————
Tana DavilaIndependent · Audit Committee · Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee · Partial-year service · Newly elected——————

Board fee structure and ownership guideline

Annual cash retainer$60,000
Annual equity retainer$90,000
Per board meeting fee—
Committee chair fees (audit / comp / nom-gov)15,000 / 12,500 / 10,000
Stock ownership guideline$5

Total cost of the board

ComponentFY2025
Cash retainers and fees$561,250
Equity awards (grant-date value)$680,000
All other compensation$0
Total cost of the board$1,241,250

Computed as the sum of the director compensation table rows above; inputs and formula shown in the register.

Peer group, and who names El Pollo Loco as a peer

Companies that benchmark against LOCO

8 companies name LOCO as a compensation peer

Each company listed discloses LOCO in its own benchmarking peer group, as disclosed in each company's most recent proxy statement within the last two proxy seasons. Two companies are therefore absent by design: one that named LOCO in an earlier year and no longer does, and one whose own most recent disclosure is older than the last two seasons.

Disclosed peer group — fiscal year 2025

The compensation peer group as the company disclosed it in its own proxy — the reference set behind the percentile above.

Peer reciprocity

Of the companies El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. names as compensation peers, which name it back in their own disclosed peer groups. A peer set the market reciprocates reads differently from one selected in a single direction.

Reciprocity shown where the peer’s own current proxy has been read — each mark is cited in the register to that peer’s filing. A dash means the peer’s current proxy was read and names no reciprocal group including El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc..

Chief executive pay against the peer group

Most recent fiscal-year chief executive compensation at each disclosed peer, taken from that company’s own proxy statement.

RankCompanyFYChief executiveSalaryStock awardsOption awardsNon-equity incentiveTotal
1Dutch Brothers2025Christine Barone$850,000$3,931,225$0$1,870,000$6,668,231
2Dine Brands Global, Inc.2025John Peyton1,000,0002,213,57702,158,5005,417,315
3Denny's Corporation2024Kelli Valade938,3083,768,5060507,6255,257,477
4Cava2025Brett Schulman861,538999,9061,000,040982,1063,859,478
5El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.2025Elizabeth Williams750,9501,434,000717,000581,1623,539,320
6BJ's Restaurants Inc.2025Lyle Tick710,7691,567,179319,590637,1433,441,781
7Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.2025David Pace510,5771,567,000—1,169,4943,252,947
8Sweetgreen, Inc.2025Jonathan Neman550,00002,675,93703,226,081
9Chuy's Holdings, Inc.2023Steve Hislop745,498559,0880745,4982,068,041
10Portillo's Inc.2025Michael Miles Jr.16,3191,320,000001,467,689
11Kura Sushi USA, Inc.2025Hajime Uba517,500454,7500183,4121,155,662
12Noodles & Company2025Joseph Christina407,116388,700082,569889,720
13FAT Brands2024Kenneth Kuick550,000000550,000
—Potbelly Corporation——————not in coverage universe

Each peer’s compensation is from its most recently filed proxy; fiscal years differ by company. Each peer’s figures come from its own filings; the subject company is highlighted. Peers whose chief executive compensation is outside our coverage universe are stated as such, never left blank.

Incentive design against the same peers

CompanyAnnual incentive payoutLong-term vehicle mixPSU measures include TSRCompensation consultant
El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.77.5%Option 33.33 · RSA 33.33 · PSU 33.33NoSemler Brossy
BJ's Restaurants Inc.100%PSU 60 · RSU 20 · Option 20Yes — Relative Total Shareholder Return (TSR)Frederic W. Cook & Co., Inc.
Cavanot disclosedRSU 50 · PSU 50not disclosedPearl Meyer & Partners, LLC
Chuy's Holdings, Inc.100%RSU 100not disclosedMercer
Denny's Corporationnot disclosedPSU 50 · RSU 50not disclosedFW Cook
Dine Brands Global, Inc.91.96%not disclosedNoExequity
Dutch Brothersnot disclosedRSU 50 · PSU 50not disclosedSemler Brossy
FAT Brandsnot disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Kura Sushi USA, Inc.not disclosedRSU 50 · PSU 50not disclosedPearl Meyer & Partners, LLC
Noodles & Companynot disclosedPSU 60 · RSU 40NoFW Cook
Portillo's Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosedMeridian Compensation Partners
Potbelly Corporationnot disclosednot disclosednot disclosednot disclosed
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.103.96%not disclosedYes — Relative TSRMeridian Compensation Partners, LLC
Sweetgreen, Inc.not disclosednot disclosednot disclosedSemler Brossy

Read from each company’s Compensation Discussion and Analysis: annual incentive payout as a percentage of target, the disclosed long-term vehicle mix, whether performance-share measures include a total shareholder return component, and the retained compensation consultant. “Not disclosed” appears only where the company’s filing does not state the item.

Say-on-pay history and pay ratio
Meeting yearMeeting dateForAgainstAbstainSupportOutcome
20262026-05-2621,942,592175,57412,05999.15%Passed
20252025-05-2921,481,6851,257,7381,594,98388.28%Passed
20242024-05-2822,827,422836,168147,33096.47%Passed
20232023-06-0620,775,037945,67150,72395.65%Passed
20222022-06-0730,858,2451,007,05028,21696.84%Passed
20212021-06-0831,052,398692,89019,80897.82%Passed

Rows are labeled by annual-meeting year, with the meeting date beside each; the vote held in a given year acts on the prior fiscal year’s compensation.

Say-on-pay — history, company’s computation

Meeting yearMeeting dateApproval — company’s computation
20262026-05-2699.15%a
20252025-05-2988.28%b
20242024-05-2896.47%c

a. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions will have the effect of a vote "Against" each of these proposals.”.

b. Approved under the standard stated in the filing — “Abstentions and broker non-votes will have the effect of votes cast "Against" these proposals.”.

c. Voting standard not stated in the filing.

Approval percentages are the company’s own reported computations under its own stated standard, not recomputed by Velarion. Where a company does not state a standard, none is assumed.

CEO pay ratio

Ratio (CEO : median employee)178 : 1
CEO total compensation$3,062,506
Median employee compensation$17,168
Insider trades since the proxy

No insider equity transactions reported since the proxy statement.

Sources (54 citations)

Each figure is listed with the filing it comes from, where it appears in that filing, and the value as printed. Any figure can be independently confirmed against the source.

  • Section 01, Elizabeth Williams. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Named Executive Officer Compensation” · page 45. As printed: 3,539,320. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Ira Fils. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Named Executive Officer Compensation” · page 45. As printed: 1,348,439. View filing ↗
  • Section 01, Maria Hollandsworth. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Named Executive Officer Compensation” · page 45. As printed: 1,204,911. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Elizabeth Williams OTHER. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Ira Fils RSA. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Elizabeth Williams PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Elizabeth Williams RSA. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Maria Hollandsworth PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Maria Hollandsworth RSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Ira Fils OTHER. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Ira Fils PSU. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION TABLES” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 03, Maria Hollandsworth OPTION. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Executive Compensation” · grants of plan-based awards table. View filing ↗
  • Section 07, pay ratio. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “CEO Pay Ratio”. As printed: 178 : 1. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, William R. Floyd. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 255,000. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Samuel N. Borgese. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 180,000. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Douglas J. Babb. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 175,000. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Nancy Faginas-Cody. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 172,500. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Deborah Gonzalez. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 165,000. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Mark Buller. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 165,000. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Joe Taylor. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 128,750. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Elizabeth Williams. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: 0. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Frank Garrido. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: —. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Robert D. Wright. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: —. View filing ↗
  • Section 08, Tana Davila. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. Section “Director Compensation”. As printed: —. View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2026 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2026-05-29. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 99.15% (votes for as printed: 21,942,592). View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2025 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2025-06-05. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 88.28% (votes for as printed: 21,481,685). View filing ↗
  • Section 06, 2024 vote. Form 8-K, filed 2024-06-03. Item 5.07 · say-on-pay result. As reported: 96.47% (votes for as printed: 22,827,422). View filing ↗
  • Section 01 trend, Δ column (computed). Computed. Δ = current-FY total − prior-FY total per named officer.
  • Section 03b vehicle mix (computed). Computed. RSU / PSU / Options grant-date fair values summed per officer from the grants table; % performance-vested = PSU ÷ (RSU+PSU+Options).
  • Section 09b board cost (computed). Computed. Cash 561,250 + equity 680,000 + all other 0 = 1,241,250, summed across the director compensation table rows.
  • Dutch Brothers, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-31. CEO total compensation as printed in Dutch Brothers's own proxy. As printed: 6,668,231. View filing ↗
  • Dine Brands Global, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-27. CEO total compensation as printed in Dine Brands Global, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 5,417,315. View filing ↗
  • Denny's Corporation, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-04-03. CEO total compensation as printed in Denny's Corporation's own proxy. As printed: 5,257,477. View filing ↗
  • Cava, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-24. CEO total compensation as printed in Cava's own proxy. As printed: 3,859,478. View filing ↗
  • El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. (subject), Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-30. CEO total compensation as printed in El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,539,320. View filing ↗
  • BJ's Restaurants Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-22. CEO total compensation as printed in BJ's Restaurants Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,441,781. View filing ↗
  • Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-03-26. CEO total compensation as printed in Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,252,947. View filing ↗
  • Sweetgreen, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-23. CEO total compensation as printed in Sweetgreen, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 3,226,081. View filing ↗
  • Chuy's Holdings, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2024-06-13. CEO total compensation as printed in Chuy's Holdings, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 2,068,041. View filing ↗
  • Portillo's Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-17. CEO total compensation as printed in Portillo's Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 1,467,689. View filing ↗
  • Kura Sushi USA, Inc., Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-12-10. CEO total compensation as printed in Kura Sushi USA, Inc.'s own proxy. As printed: 1,155,662. View filing ↗
  • Noodles & Company, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2026-04-01. CEO total compensation as printed in Noodles & Company's own proxy. As printed: 889,720. View filing ↗
  • FAT Brands, Section 10b CEO total. DEF 14A, filed 2025-11-13. CEO total compensation as printed in FAT Brands's own proxy. As printed: 550,000. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, BJ's Restaurants Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. BJ's Restaurants Inc. names El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Kura Sushi USA, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Kura Sushi USA, Inc. names El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Sweetgreen, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Sweetgreen, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Dine Brands Global, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Dine Brands Global, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Noodles & Company reciprocity. DEF 14A. Noodles & Company names El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, CAVA reciprocity. DEF 14A. CAVA's most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Dutch Brothers reciprocity. DEF 14A. Dutch Brothers names El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Denny's Corporation reciprocity. DEF 14A. Denny's Corporation names El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc. in its own disclosed peer group (read from its most recent proxy). View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Chuy's Holdings, Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Chuy's Holdings, Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.. View filing ↗
  • Section 10a, Portillo's Inc. reciprocity. DEF 14A. Portillo's Inc.'s most recent proxy was read; its disclosed peer group does not include El Pollo Loco Holdings, Inc.. View filing ↗
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