Whataburger Taps Todd Ewen as Chief Development Officer to Lead National Growth
Todd Ewen brings real estate expertise to lead Whataburger’s national burger conquest.
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San Antonio, TX — Whataburger named Todd Ewen as Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer on March 24, 2025, to drive national growth, targeting 24 million new customers in 2025. Texas diplomacy at its finest.
The Details:
Ewen’s Experience: Over 20 years in real estate, including McDonald’s Development Director and founding L3 Commercial Development, managing $300M in deals.
Expansion Plans: Since 2019, entered six new states like Florida and Georgia, with North Carolina next—its 17th state.
History: Founded in 1950 in Corpus Christi by Harmon Dobson, family-owned until BDT’s 2019 buyout. BDT’s investment grew Whataburger to 16 states, lifting sales to $3.8B.
Why It Matters: Private equity’s ownership of Texas icons like Whataburger—part of a $1T capital wave—hinges on national growth, as firms like Blue Sage and Lone Star target local brands for national scaling.
Bottom Line: Ewen’s leadership could help make Whataburger a national food icon. Texas diplomacy at its finest.