Fiesta Restaurant Group®, Inc., Announces New Vice President

Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: FRGI), which operates the fast-casual dining chains Taco Cabana®, Pollo Tropical® and Cabana Grill®, has promoted IT veteran Ryan Nowlin to vice president – information technology.

Nowlin, who joined Fiesta as director of IT systems in 2012 and was named senior director of IT in 2014, is responsible for the company’s entire IT structure. Key accomplishments during his tenure include redesigning Pollo Tropical’s website with online ordering capabilities, restructuring the IT department, improving Help Desk functions, improving on-site repair, and beginning the migration of the company’s enterprise systems and network to the cloud.

“Fiesta’s growth is reliant on a solid infrastructure, and Ryan has continually sought to implement, improve, update and streamline our technological systems so that we are always running at maximum efficiency – not just for today, but looking toward future needs as well,” said Fiesta President and CEO Tim Taft. “They say that you can tell a great IT department by how little you have to think about it, and with this promotion, we are showing Ryan that we appreciate the seamlessness of both our internal and consumer-facing systems.”

Prior to Fiesta, Nowlin served as vice president – IT and business process for Corner Bakery Cafe. Previously, he spent 13 years in IT consulting with a focus on infrastructure, information security and technology strategy. He holds an MBA from SMU Cox School of Business.

About Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc.

Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., owns, operates and franchises Pollo Tropical, Taco Cabana and Cabana Grill restaurant brands. The brands specialize in the operation of fast-casual, ethnic restaurants that offer distinct and unique flavors with broad appeal at a compelling value. The brands feature made-from-scratch cooking, fresh salsa bars, drive-thru service and catering. For more information about Fiesta Restaurant Group, Inc., visit the corporate website at www.frgi.com.