Portillo’s appoints Denise Lauer as chief marketing officer

OAK BROOK, Ill. - Portillo’s (NASDAQ:PTLO), the restaurant chain known for Chicago-style favorites and currently valued at $511 million, has appointed Denise Lauer as Chief Marketing Officer effective September 22, according to a company press release issued Friday. The appointment comes as the company’s stock trades near its 52-week low, though InvestingPro analysis suggests the stock may be undervalued at current levels.

Lauer joins Portillo’s with more than 20 years of marketing and communications experience, most recently serving as Chief Marketing Officer at Marco’s Pizza, which operates over 1,200 locations. At Marco’s, she led brand strategy, media, digital marketing, customer experience, and product innovation initiatives.

"Denise brings an exceptional combination of strategic vision and hands-on execution," said Michael Osanloo, Portillo’s President and CEO.

During her tenure at Marco’s Pizza, Lauer established a multi-year innovation pipeline that introduced multiple limited-time offerings and permanent menu additions. She also developed the "Marco’s More Menu" value platform and led a digital transformation of the online ordering experience.

Prior to Marco’s Pizza, Lauer held Chief Marketing Officer positions at Informed Insurance and Morton Salt, both Chicago-based companies. She also worked in leadership roles at PepsiCo’s Quaker Foods and Snacks division and FedEx.

Portillo’s currently operates more than 95 restaurants across 10 states. The company has been expanding beyond its Chicagoland roots to bring its menu of Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, burgers and chocolate cake to new markets. For investors seeking deeper insights into Portillo’s expansion strategy and financial health, InvestingPro offers comprehensive analysis with 12 additional ProTips and detailed financial metrics in its Pro Research Report.

In other recent news, Portillo’s Inc. announced its second-quarter 2025 financial results, which showed a slight miss on both earnings and revenue forecasts. The company reported an earnings per share (EPS) of $0.12, which did not meet the expected $0.1212, and revenue of $188.5 million, falling short of the projected $196.5 million. In response to these results, UBS lowered its price target for Portillo’s to $9.00 from $12.00, maintaining a Neutral rating on the stock. The adjustment was attributed to weaker-than-expected sales from new store openings and subsequent reductions in the 2025 revenue and EBITDA guidance. Additionally, Portillo’s has appointed Denise Lauer as the new Chief Marketing Officer, effective September 22, 2025. Lauer brings over 20 years of marketing experience, having previously served as the Chief Marketing Officer at Marco’s Pizza. These developments are part of Portillo’s ongoing efforts to navigate current market challenges.

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