El Torito Restaurants Announces Promotions

El Torito Restaurants Inc. in Irvine has appointed James W. Stryker as executive vice president and chief financial officer, and Robert D. Johnson as vice president for financial planning and analysis.

Stryker, 38, joined El Torito in 1977 and most recently served as vice president of finance. Prior to joining El Torito, Stryker held various management positions with Price Waterhouse.

Johnson, 31, joined El Torito Restaurants in 1981 as a senior financial analyst and was named director of financial planning and analysis in 1983. Prior to joining El Torito he was employed by W.R. Grace & Co. as manager of financial analysis of its restaurant group.

The promotions place Johnson in an expanded version of Stryker’s old position, while Stryker replaces Martin M. Casey, El Torito’s former chief financial officer. Casey has been named a corporate vice president, executive vice president for finance and administration and deputy group executive of W.R. Grace & Co.’s restaurant group. W.R. Grace is the operator of El Torito and more than a dozen other restaurant chains. Casey, 40, began his career with W.R. Grace & Co. in 1974 and was named executive vice president in 1983. He was elected a director of El Torito Restaurants Inc. in 1984, a position he will retain.