A passing of the torch is underway at FAT Brands, as the foodservice company has announced Ken Kuick and Rob Rosen as Co-Chief Executive Officers. Effective May 5, 2023, the leaders will succeed Andy Wiederhorn, who is stepping down and taking on the role of Chairman of the Board, where he will focus on the strategic direction of the company.
“Andy is a great leader, and I’m extremely humbled to take on this new responsibility and drive forward the key goals of the company,” said Kuick, who is the current Chief Financial Officer. “We are fortunate to have such a talented team at FAT Brands, and I see great opportunity ahead in building upon our positioning as one of the largest restaurant companies in the U.S.”
Kuick joined FAT Brands in 2021 as CFO and has since played an integral role in the growth of the company alongside Rosen, a release stated. Both Kuick and Rosen will continue in their respective roles as CFO and Executive Vice President of Capital Markets while assuming the Co-CEO position. Together, they will focus on driving the company’s overarching goals of organic growth through new store openings, the utilization of its manufacturing facility, and bolstering the success of high-growth brands.
Before coming to FAT Brands, Kuick served as CFO of Noodles & Company, Chief Accounting Officer of VICI Properties, and CAO of Caesars Entertainment Operating Company.
Rosen came to FAT Brands as a Wall Street veteran with over 30 years of experience in structured finance, banking, lending, and portfolio management.
“I’m honored to take on the Co-CEO position of a company that continues to surpass growth expectations,” said Rosen, EVP of Capital Markets. “In the near term, Ken and I will look to build on the strong foundation FAT Brands has already laid, which includes our robust growth pipeline, exciting innovations, and a commitment to our franchisees and customers.”
Prior to coming to FAT Brands, Rosen held positions at Fleet Bank, Kidder Peabody, the Bank of Tokyo, and Black Diamond Capital Management, where he spent over 20 years.
“Over the last few years, Ken and Rob have played a tremendous role in the unprecedented growth of FAT Brands,” commented Wiederhorn. “Their financial acumen and track record for hitting key company benchmarks make them well-positioned to take on the CEO role together. I look forward to continuing to work with Ken and Rob in the Chairman of the Board position to aid in the continued success of FAT Brands.”
Cheers to all three leaders as they begin these new career journeys!
