On The Border Mexican Grill & Cantina, which was recently acquired by Border Holdings, LLC, an affiliate of Argonne Capital Group, today announced the appointment of Ward Whitworth as president of On The Border.
The move follows the resignation of On The Border CEO Steve Clark, who has committed to Argonne Capital Group to stay on for a period of time in order to ensure a smooth transition to new leadership.
"My goal four years ago was to transition OTB to stand-alone status, return the brand to category leadership, and create new restaurant growth," says Clark, who has led several leading brands over his 40 years in the restaurant industry. "Great progress has been made in these areas and my experience with On The Border has been wonderful."
Incoming OTB president Whitworth was most recently president of ACG, the nation's largest IHOP franchisee, based in Texas. Previously, he spent a number of years with Yum Brands, running several large markets. In addition, Ward was vice president of franchise for Pizza Hut, with responsibility for 2,700 restaurants.
Throughout his career, Whitworth has relied on a strong recognition culture, great operations discipline, and a clear vision for success, allowing his teams and business results to flourish.
"On The Border is a world-class brand and I embrace the opportunity to lead the organization," Whitworth says. "We are ready for our next chapter of growth, and I am confident this unique brand under new ownership and leadership will continue to thrive in the coming years."
