Lara Thom Departs Guzman y Gomez After Transforming Brand to $1.18bn Giant

Rowan Ashford

Published: April 13, 2026 8:55 AM ET

Lara Thom has announced her departure from Guzman y Gomez (GYG), a fast-growing Australian quick-service restaurant. During her tenure, she transformed the brand from $166 million in annual sales to an impressive $1.18 billion.

Thom’s Impact on Guzman y Gomez

Thom joined GYG in 2016, when it operated 70 stores and recorded annual sales of $166 million. Under her leadership, the brand has achieved remarkable growth. By fiscal year 2025 (FY25), GYG made its public debut on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) and saw its market value soar to $3 billion.

Remarkable Financial Growth

Annual sales increased to $1.18 billion in FY25.
EBITDA rose by 45.5% to $65.1 million.
Network sales growth reached 19.5%, totaling $345.9 million for the third quarter ending March 31, 2026.

GYG’s stock has experienced volatility, with shares dipping to $15.20 after reaching a high of $34 the previous year. As of April 10, 2026, shares rebounded to $20.68 following a positive sales update.

Innovative Marketing Strategies

Thom highlighted the importance of marketing in driving growth. “Marketing sits at the intersection of data, creativity, and commercial accountability,” she stated. Under her guidance, GYG introduced the ‘Clean is the New Healthy’ brand platform in 2019 and focused on eliminating preservatives and artificial ingredients from its menu. This initiative contributed significantly to GYG’s successful IPO and boosted brand affinity.

Store Expansion and Future Plans

At present, GYG operates 278 stores across various locations:

242 in Australia
23 in Singapore
5 in Japan
8 in the United States

The company plans to open 32 new locations in Australia this year, including 23 drive-thrus.

Engaging the Community

As part of its community outreach, GYG sponsored over 200 grassroots sporting clubs, enhancing its brand visibility. The ’60 Stories in 60 Days’ campaign, which created 600 unique content variants, was another highlight of Thom’s marketing approach.

Career Highlights

Before her role at GYG, Thom had a diverse career that began in journalism. She worked with News Corp’s Daily Telegraph before moving into leadership positions within various agencies and successful startups. Her past roles included General Manager of Digital and Marketing for Vittoria Food & Beverage.

Thom’s departure marks the end of an era for GYG, but her legacy of transformative growth and innovative marketing strategies will long be remembered.