Patrick Benson

As the Director of Digital, Social, and Influencer Marketing at El Pollo Loco, Patrick Benson has transformed the brand’s digital presence. He successfully grew El Pollo Loco’s TikTok audience to over 150,000 followers and initiated the brand's first-ever influencer partnerships. His efforts focus on curating impactful influencer marketing campaigns, skillfully navigating the intricate balance between macro and micro-influencers to optimize brand visibility and audience engagement.

His expertise spans the entertainment and food and beverage industries, where he has successfully collaborated with various brands and clients. Patrick's innovative approaches in social media have garnered attention from prominent publications such as AdAge, Deadline, Mashable, Buzzfeed, The Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and Entertainment Weekly.

Beginning his career in entertainment, Patrick shaped the social media landscape for major studios like NBC, FOX, and CBS for their Emmy Award-winning show, Entertainment Tonight. At FOX, he pioneered the social media strategy for groundbreaking shows such as American Idol and Empire, achieving record-breaking engagement. Recognized for his contributions to the field, Patrick was named on the Brand Innovators '40 Under 40’ West Coast list in 2021.