Portillo’s names Kevin Kalicak chief financial officer

Portillo’s names Kevin Kalicak chief financial officer

Tue, August 4, 2026 at 6:38 PM GMT+3 2 min read

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Portillo's has named Kevin Kalicak as chief financial officer and treasurer, effective Sept. 7.

Kalicak previously served in various roles with Darden Restaurants for more than 25 years, most recently as senior vice president of finance for Olive Garden.

In his new role, he will oversee Portillo's finance organization, including financial planning and analysis, accounting, investor relations, internal audit, tax, supply chain, and other corporate financial functions.

In a statement, President and CEO Brett Patterson said he is a proven leader with deep restaurant industry expertise, as well as a "strong track record of driving profitable growth and a collaborative leadership style that aligns well with the direction of the Portillo's brand.

Patterson was named to his role in February, succeeding Michael Osanloo. Kalicak succeeds Michelle Hook, who took on the same position at Shake Shack in May.

"As we refine and execute our strategy, (Kalicak's) experience leading high-performing finance organizations to support operational excellence and ultimately drive shareholder value will be instrumental as we strengthen our business and position Portillo's for long-term growth," Patterson said.

At Olive Garden, Kalicak was responsible for the financial leadership of a brand with more than 900 restaurants and $5 billion in annual sales. He also has held several positions across various areas of brand finance, business analytics, enterprise finance and investor relations within Darden's portfolio.

In a statement, he said he is honored to join Portillo's at "an exciting point in the company's journey."

"Portillo's is a beloved brand with a passionate team and strong foundation for future growth," he said.

Portillo's went public in October 2021. It has grown to more than 100 restaurants across 11 states. The company ended 2025 with $732.1 million in sales, marking a 3% year-over-year change, according to Technomic.

Contact Alicia Kelso at Alicia.Kelso@informa.com

Follow her on TikTok: @aliciakelso