Tony Moralejo to Step Down as Applebee’s President; Dine Brands CEO John Peyton to Serve as Interim

Tony Moralejo, President, Applebee’s・ Photo Credit: Dine Brands

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PASADENA, Calif., February 5, 2025 (VSNewsNetwork.com) — Restaurant company Dine Brands Global, Inc. (NYSE: DIN) has announced that Tony Moralejo will step down as president of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar, effective March 4, 2025. Moralejo will continue to serve as an advisor to the company until June 4, 2025. John Peyton, CEO of Dine Brands, will assume the role of interim Applebee’s president while continuing in his current position.

Peyton acknowledged Moralejo’s contributions during his tenure, stating, "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 two 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.”

Moralejo commented on his departure: "It has been an absolute honor and privilege to serve as president of this exceptional brand. Leading this remarkable team and working alongside our dedicated franchise partners over the past two years has been an incredible experience."

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Dine Brands has begun a nationwide search for a new Applebee’s president with expertise in brand management, restaurant operations, and marketing. During the transition, Peyton will oversee the brand, working with Applebee’s executive team and franchisees on digital initiatives, menu development, in-restaurant dining, off-premise strategies, and expansion efforts.

Peyton joined Dine Brands as CEO in January 2021. Before that, he was president and CEO of Realogy Franchise Group and spent 17 years as a senior executive at Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

Dine Brands, headquartered in Pasadena, California, franchises restaurants under the Applebee's, IHOP, and Fuzzy's Taco Shop brands. As of September 30, 2024, the company operated more than 3,500 restaurants across 19 international markets.

For more information, visit www.dinebrands.com.

Source: Dine Brands Global, Inc.