Executive Spotlight: Zach McLeroy, Chairman of Zaxby's (2027)
Zach McLeroy is the co-founder and Chairman of Zaxby's, the chicken restaurant chain based in Athens, Georgia. He started the company in 1990 with Tony Townley, led it as CEO for more than 30 years, and moved to Chairman in January 2022 when Bernard Acoca became the company's first external CEO. In November 2020 funds managed by Goldman Sachs' Merchant Banking Division bought a significant stake in the company.
This page covers public professional information only, drawn from published coverage and company announcements.
Current role and company
Franchise Times' Top 400 2026 listing says McLeroy moved to Chairman in January 2022 and that Bernard Acoca became CEO at that time. Zaxby's is a privately held chicken chain; the same listing says Goldman Sachs acquired a significant stake in 2020. This page did not reach Zaxby's own website, so the title rests on trade press.
- CompanyZaxby's (Zaxby's Franchising LLC), Athens, Georgia.
- TitleChairman, per Franchise Times (Top 400 2026).
- CEO of the companyUntil January 2022.
- Company founded1990, by Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley.
Career path
- Co-founder. MEAT+POULTRY reported that McLeroy started the business in 1990 with co-founder Tony Townley. A November 2020 company announcement places the founding in Statesboro, Georgia.
- Chief executive for three decades. Trade coverage in October 2021 described him as having led the brand for more than 30 years.
- Goldman Sachs investment. In November 2020, investment funds managed by Goldman Sachs' Merchant Banking Division agreed to acquire a significant stake in Zaxby's. McLeroy remained CEO, according to Franchise Times.
- Chairman. Zaxby's announced in October 2021 that he would move to Chairman effective January 2022, with Bernard Acoca, formerly CEO of El Pollo Loco, taking over as CEO.
What he is known for
- Building a regional chain. Zaxby's grew from a 1990 start into a chain of more than 900 restaurants in 17 states by 2020 and 2021, per company-sourced coverage.
- Franchise partnership. In a Franchise Times interview he said the company bought stakes in some franchised restaurants early on so cautious franchisees could take the risk, and that he treats franchisees as partners.
- An external CEO. He said he decided earlier in 2021 that the best way to capture Zaxby's opportunities was to bring in its first external chief executive, with a focus on national expansion.
- Outside investment. The 2020 Goldman Sachs deal was announced as a way to fund faster growth and new sales channels.
Leadership style and philosophy
In a Franchise Times interview about his move to Chairman, McLeroy said of his successor: "We talked about culture and we talked about people a lot more than we talked about the business." He described his new role this way: "I'll be a guardian and a guide for the new CEO." He also said he planned to keep an office at headquarters and work closely with Acoca.
Key numbers
Figures for Zaxby's, with the period shown. They describe the company, not McLeroy personally. The first three are from Franchise Times' Top 400 ranking rather than the company itself.
- Global sales$2.763 billion, up 5.1%, per Franchise Times Top 400 2026.
- Units1,005, all in the U.S., per the same listing.
- Franchised units865, or 86%, per the same listing.
- Restaurants in 2021More than 900 in 17 states, per the October 2021 announcement coverage.
What to watch next
Worth tracking: how CEO Bernard Acoca and the Goldman Sachs-backed ownership carry out the national expansion McLeroy said he wanted when the investment was made.
Questions people ask
Who is Zach McLeroy?
He is the co-founder and Chairman of Zaxby's, the Athens, Georgia chicken chain he started in 1990 with Tony Townley.
Is Zach McLeroy still the CEO of Zaxby's?
No. He moved to Chairman in January 2022, and Bernard Acoca became CEO.
Did Goldman Sachs invest in Zaxby's?
Yes. In November 2020, funds managed by Goldman Sachs' Merchant Banking Division agreed to acquire a significant stake in the company.
Who founded Zaxby's?
Zach McLeroy and Tony Townley started the company in 1990.
Who is Bernard Acoca?
He is Zaxby's CEO and the company's first external chief executive. He was previously CEO of El Pollo Loco.
How big is Zaxby's?
Franchise Times' Top 400 2026 lists global sales of $2.763 billion and 1,005 U.S. units, 865 of them franchised.
Sources
- MEAT+POULTRY: Zaxby's CEO, co-founder transitions to chairman · Chairman move, 1990 founding, quotes, photo
- Nation's Restaurant News: Bernard Acoca named CEO of Zaxby's (Oct 2021) · 2021 succession announcement
- Franchising.com: Zaxby's announces strategic investment from Goldman Sachs (Nov 2020) · Goldman Sachs stake, founding in Statesboro, restaurant count
- Franchise Times: Out as CEO, Zaxby's founder reflects on 30 years of growth · Interview quotes, franchisee partnership, Goldman deal
- Franchise Times: Top 400 2026, Zaxby's · Current Chairman and CEO, 2026 sales and units
Facts were read from the linked pages on November 1, 2026, partly through a fetch tool that returns summaries, so confirm details on the original pages. Zaxby's own website blocked automated access, so the current title comes from trade press. The hero photo is Zaxby's portrait of Zach McLeroy as published by MEAT+POULTRY, cropped to show him alone; the publication credits it to Zaxby's. This page covers public professional information only.
Top photo: Zaxby's, courtesy of MEAT+POULTRY (meatpoultry.com), cropped