Overview
- Diego Paniagua became managing director for Argentina on January 1, 2026, returning to the market after a long tenure with the company.
- He has more than three decades at Arcos Dorados, with senior operational roles in Argentina and recent managing director posts in Aruba, Curaçao, Trinidad and Tobago, and Uruguay.
- Paniagua succeeds Eduardo Lopardo Badano, who exited in late 2025 and is now CEO of Droguería del Sud.
- On January 2, McDonald’s renewed its regional agreement with Arcos Dorados for 20 more years, reinforcing the franchisee’s long-term role.
- Operational priorities include continuing a remodeling program that has updated about 80 of nearly 230 Argentine restaurants, with competition shaped by Mostaza’s roughly 200 outlets and a Burger King network of about 100 stores seeking a buyer.