Acrelec Taps New Leadership for Aggressive QSR Tech Expansion

BASINGSTOKE, England – January 05, 2026 – Glory Global Solutions has initiated a significant leadership overhaul at its subsidiary Acrelec, signaling a strategic pivot designed to accelerate the company’s global growth in the fiercely competitive Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) technology sector. In a move that marks the end of an era, Acrelec co-founder, President, and CEO Jacques Mangeot has stepped down from the company he helped build from a startup into a global powerhouse.

Effective immediately, Diane Palmquist has been appointed President of Acrelec Group, while Bruno Lo-Ré has been promoted to Chief Executive Officer. This new dual-leadership structure is tasked with steering Acrelec into its next chapter, leveraging the vast resources of its parent company to capitalize on a rapidly evolving market. The transition underscores a clear intention from Glory Global Solutions to more deeply integrate its technology assets and aggressively expand its footprint.

A Strategic Overhaul for a New Era

The departure of a founding CEO often signifies a pivotal moment in a company’s lifecycle, marking a transition from entrepreneurial vision to structured corporate growth. Jacques Mangeot’s leadership was instrumental in establishing Acrelec as a dominant force, particularly in the self-service kiosk market where it commands a leading global share. Glory Global Solutions CEO Toshimitsu Yoshinari acknowledged this legacy, extending his "heartfelt gratitude to Jacques for his unwavering commitment and boundless energy in shaping Acrelec’s journey."

However, this leadership change is about the future, not the past. It is a calculated move by Glory, a global leader in automation solutions, to further its diversification strategy. Since acquiring Acrelec in 2020, Glory has been steadily expanding beyond its traditional cash-handling business. A key piece of this strategy was the acquisition of Flooid, a unified commerce platform provider, in 2024. The appointment of Flooid's former CEO, Diane Palmquist, to a top role at Acrelec is a clear signal of Glory's intent to create a more cohesive and powerful technology ecosystem for the retail and hospitality industries. By installing leadership with proven integration and scaling experience, Glory is positioning Acrelec not just to grow, but to dominate.

"Under Diane and Bruno’s leadership, I’m certain we will capture the significant market opportunities before us," Yoshinari stated, emphasizing his confidence in the new team. "I am excited about the dynamic growth strategy we have in place and the future we are building together at Acrelec."

The New Playbook: A Dual-Leadership Approach

The new leadership team brings a potent combination of external strategic vision and internal operational expertise. Diane Palmquist, as the new President, arrives with over 25 years of experience in the global enterprise software space. Her recent success involved guiding Flooid through its acquisition by Glory and subsequent integration efforts, making her uniquely qualified to align Acrelec with Glory’s broader objectives. Her background in unified commerce platforms is particularly relevant as QSRs increasingly adopt omnichannel strategies to create seamless customer experiences across mobile apps, online ordering, and in-store touchpoints.

"I’ve seen firsthand how strong platforms and focused leadership can unlock transformational growth,” said Palmquist. “I look forward to working closely with Bruno and leading the Acrelec team to accelerate growth and deliver lasting value for customers worldwide.”

Complementing Palmquist's strategic oversight is Bruno Lo-Ré, the new CEO, who brings deep institutional knowledge and a proven record of execution from within Acrelec. Since joining in 2016, Lo-Ré has held several critical roles, most notably as Co-CEO of Acrelec Americas. In that position, he was credited with doubling the region's revenue and restoring profitability, demonstrating a keen ability to scale the business effectively. His promotion ensures continuity and rewards a leader who understands the company's technology, culture, and customer base intimately.

“Over the past decade, I’ve had the privilege of helping shape Acrelec alongside an exceptional team as we’ve grown our global footprint, expanded our capabilities, and earned the trust of customers around the world,” Lo-Ré remarked. “As CEO, my priority is to build on this momentum. I’m energized by the opportunity to scale our impact and strengthen our position as a global QSR tech leader.”

Capitalizing on a Booming QSR Technology Market

The timing of this leadership transition is critical. The QSR industry is undergoing a technological revolution, driven by consumer demand for speed and convenience, and operational pressures from labor shortages and rising costs. Acrelec is already a major player, with over 120,000 installations in more than 70 countries and a client list that includes many of the world's largest fast-food chains. The company holds an estimated 14% of the global self-ordering kiosk market, a segment that continues to see robust investment.

The new leadership is poised to build on this foundation and push Acrelec deeper into high-growth areas. The market is rapidly moving beyond simple kiosks to embrace more sophisticated technologies. AI-powered voice assistants are being tested and deployed in drive-thrus to speed up ordering, while kitchen automation promises to increase efficiency and consistency. Furthermore, the ability to harness data for predictive analytics—forecasting demand, personalizing offers, and optimizing inventory—is becoming a key competitive differentiator.

With Palmquist’s expertise in unified commerce and Lo-Ré’s operational prowess, Acrelec is well-positioned to offer more integrated solutions that connect the front-of-house experience with back-of-house operations. This is crucial for competing against agile software-focused rivals like Toast and Square, as well as established hardware providers like NCR. The goal is to evolve from a hardware supplier to a comprehensive technology partner that can help brands like McDonald's, Burger King, and KFC navigate the complexities of the modern digital landscape. The new leadership's combined experience suggests a strategy focused on leveraging Acrelec’s hardware dominance as a beachhead for deploying more advanced software and AI-driven services, creating a holistic platform that enhances every aspect of the restaurant operation.

This strategic pivot, driven by a new, dynamic leadership team, is designed to ensure Acrelec not only keeps pace with industry trends but actively shapes them, solidifying its role as an indispensable technology partner for the world's leading restaurant brands.