Fogo de Chão promotes Daniel Duran to CFO
The company’s SVP of financial planning and analysis and investor relations will replace longtime CFO Tony Laday, who retired.
July 23, 2026
Fogo de Chão has found its successor to longtime CFO Tony Laday.
The Brazilian steakhouse chain is promoting Daniel Duran, SVP of financial planning and analysis and investor relations, to the top finance role, effective July 20.
Laday announced his retirement in April after 12 years with the company.
Duran joined Fogo in November. Previously, he spent four years at BJ’s Restaurants, where he rose to SVP of finance and corporate strategy. Before that, he was VP of planning and strategy for clothing retailer Hot Topic for 10 years.
As CFO, he will oversee Fogo’s financial strategy, planning, accounting, treasury, tax, investor relations, and business analytics functions.
"Daniel is an exceptional leader who has earned the trust and respect of our team through his strategic mindset, collaborative approach, and commitment to our culture," Fogo CEO Barry McGowan said in a statement. "Since joining Fogo, he has quickly become a valued partner to our leadership team, helping us make smarter decisions that position the business for long-term success. As we continue expanding the Fogo brand, I have complete confidence in Daniel's ability to lead our financial organization, AI finance function and help shape our next growth chapter."
McGowan also thanked Laday for his more than 12 years of service. "He will be greatly missed, and we wish him the best in his retirement," McGowan said.
Duran takes the finance reins as Fogo continues to expand rapidly both in and outside of the U.S. The chain opened 16 locations last year, including eight in the U.S., and plans to open another 14 to 16 this year. It has a total of 122 restaurants worldwide.
"I'm honored to step into this role and grateful for the opportunity to continue building on the strong financial foundation that Tony helped establish," said Duran. "Fogo is a remarkable brand with tremendous momentum, an incredible culture, and a talented team. I look forward to partnering across the organization to support our continued growth while staying true to what makes Fogo special."
About the Author
Joe Guszkowski
Senior editor, Restaurant Business
Joe Guszkowski is a senior editor with Restaurant Business covering technology and casual-dining chains.
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