Pasadena, Calif. — Dine Brands Global, Inc., the parent company of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar®, Fuzzy’s Taco Shop® and IHOP®, has announced that Tony Moralejo (pictured here) will step down as Applebee’s president, effective March 4, 2025, and will serve as an advisor to the company through June 4, 2025. John Peyton, CEO, Dine Brands, will assume the role of interim president of Applebee’s while continuing in his current capacity.
“Tony and I share a deep respect for the DNA of Applebee’s and we are all grateful for his contributions since he took on this role 2 years ago. He has navigated a challenging economic environment, led an outstanding team and strengthened our relationships with franchisees. I’m incredibly thankful for his leadership — he embodies what great leadership looks like. I look forward to building on his work and accelerating our plans to grow the brand and achieve superior results,” says Peyton.
The company has initiated a nationwide search for a new leader for Applebee’s with proven expertise in brand stewardship, restaurant operations and marketing. In the meantime, Peyton will oversee the brand, collaborating with the executive team and franchisees to capitalize on growth opportunities across key areas, including digital experience, menu innovation, in-restaurant dining, off-premise and domestic expansion.
Peyton, a seasoned brand executive, joined Dine Brands in January 2021 as CEO. Before joining Dine Brands, he served as president and CEO of Realogy Franchise Group, following a 17-year tenure as a senior executive at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Based in Pasadena, Calif., Dine Brands Global, Inc. has over 3,500 restaurants across 19 international markets. Dine Brands is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world. For more information, visit www.dinebrands.com.
SOURCE: Dine Brands Global, Inc.