Kalicak will join Portillo’s on September 7, 2026, succeeding Michelle Hook, who left the company in May after approximately five and a half years to become CFO of Shake Shack.
Kalicak spent nearly 30 years at Darden, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Finance for Olive Garden. During his tenure, he held roles spanning brand finance, business analytics, enterprise finance and investor relations. At Olive Garden, he was responsible for a business with more than 900 restaurants and approximately $5 billion in annual sales, giving him experience managing finance at a significantly larger restaurant scale.
At Portillo’s, Kalicak will oversee financial planning and analysis, accounting, investor relations, internal audit, tax, supply chain and other corporate financial functions.
Portillo’s President and CEO Brett Patterson said Kalicak’s experience would be important as the company refines its strategy.
“As we refine and execute our strategy, [Kalicak’s] experience leading high-performing finance organizations to support operational excellence and ultimately drive shareholder value will be instrumental as we strengthen our business and position Portillo’s for long-term growth.”
