10 Taco Bell regional operations leaders
Region Director, Regional Director of Franchise Operations and Market Director are among the current titles held by these Taco Bell regional operations leaders, each listed for a role with Taco Bell corporate rather than with a franchisee. A reader can learn how regional operations leaders run their areas at Taco Bell from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Aaron Hinson
LinkedInExperience: Region Director - Franchise Operations - Taco Bell Corporate · Taco Bell
Aaron Hinson has been Region Director - Franchise Operations - Taco Bell Corporate since July 2026, based in the Charlotte Metro, and also lists Sr. Franchise Consultant at Taco Bell since 2023 and Operations Consultant there since 2020. Aaron Hinson was License Operations - Brand Protection Coach at Taco Bell from 2019 to 2020 and Area Coach there from 2016 to 2019.
David Perez
LinkedInExperience: Director of Operations, Taco Bell LA&C · Taco Bell
David Perez has been Director of Operations, Taco Bell LA&C at Taco Bell since January 2026, based in Irvine, California, with a profile headline that names Taco Bell Latin America & Caribbean. David Perez was Sr. Manager, Global Operating Systems at Taco Bell International from 2024 to 2026 and Manager, Global Operating Systems there from 2021 to 2024.
Heidi D.
LinkedInExperience: Region Leader · Taco Bell
Heidi D. has been Region Leader at Taco Bell since April 2011, based in the Detroit Metropolitan Area, with a profile headline of Director of Franchise Consulting. The listing shows Region Leader at Taco Bell as the current role and shows no other employer for Heidi D., so the listed career sits inside Taco Bell.
jeff Torres
LinkedInExperience: Regional Director · Taco Bell
jeff Torres has been Regional Director at Taco Bell since October 2016, based in Mesa, Arizona, with a profile headline of Regional Director at Taco Bell. jeff Torres has the role listed in the General Management department at Director level at Taco Bell, and the profile shows no other employers, so the whole listed career sits inside Taco Bell.
Joshua Heaton
LinkedInExperience: Regional Director, Company Operations · Taco Bell
Joshua Heaton has been Regional Director, Company Operations at Taco Bell since August 2026 and also lists Regional Director, Franchise Operations there since July 2023, based in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Joshua Heaton was Sr Director Store Operations at Bed Bath & Beyond from 2021 to 2023 and Sr Territory Operations Manager at Old Navy from 2017 to 2020.
Kris McDiarmid
LinkedInExperience: Market Director · Taco Bell
Kris McDiarmid has been Market Director at Taco Bell since November 2021, based in Fort Myers Beach, Florida, and was Market Training Manager at Taco Bell from 1998 to 2003. Kris McDiarmid was Director of Operations at Carrols Corporation from 2015 to 2021 and District Operations Manager at Quality Dining, Inc. from 2005 to 2015.
Lori Thompson
LinkedInExperience: Regional Director of Franchise Operarions · Taco Bell
Lori Thompson has been Regional Director of Franchise Operations at Taco Bell since March 2025, based in Fort Myers, Florida. Lori Thompson was Regional Director of Equity Operations at Taco Bell from 2018 to 2025, Sr. Brand Operations Leader there from 2015 to 2018 and Sr. Manager, Operations from 2012 to 2015, and the profile describes Lori Thompson as a people-first leader in the Taco Bell community.
Marc Vavalle
LinkedInExperience: Regional Director, Equity Operations · Taco Bell
Marc Vavalle has been Regional Director, Equity Operations at Taco Bell since January 2026, based in Loganville, Georgia, with a profile headline of Regional Director, Southeast Equity Operations at Taco Bell. Marc Vavalle was Director of Franchise Operations at Panera Bread from 2024 to 2025 and Area Operating Partner there from 2015 to 2021.
Shawn Kidd
LinkedInExperience: Region Director-Northeast · Taco Bell
Shawn Kidd has been Region Director-Northeast at Taco Bell since December 2018, based in the Washington DC-Baltimore Area. Shawn Kidd was North America New Market Operations Leader at Taco Bell from 2017 to 2018, Growth Leader there from 2014 to 2017 and Company Operations Leader-Norfolk-Charlotte-West Virginia from 2012 to 2014.
Theresa Hurtado
LinkedInExperience: Franchise Region Director (Northern U.S.) · Taco Bell
Theresa Hurtado was Franchise Region Director (Northern U.S.) at Taco Bell from 2021 to 2023, Director, Restaurant Integration there from 2023 to 2025 and Chief of Staff to Chief Operating Officer from 2025 to 2026. Theresa Hurtado has been Market Vice President, Operations at Starbucks since June 2026, based in Metropolitan Fresno.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's region and whether they lead company-owned restaurants or support franchisees to the decision you face. Check the former roles at Taco Bell, which are marked, and when each current role started, to judge how close their view is to your question.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01Which decisions took up most of your time while leading a region or a market?
- 02How did you set priorities across the restaurants and franchisees you oversaw?
- 03What made a change across a region go smoothly or stall in your experience?
Reaching Taco Bell regional operations leaders
How can I contact one of these Taco Bell regional operations leaders?
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Can an AI agent ask one of these Taco Bell regional operations leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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