Denny's names new CEO post acquisition
One of America’s largest diner chains has a new leader at the helm.
Denny’s has named Christopher Bode as its new president and CEO, promoting him from the role of president and chief operating officer which he had held since September 2024. Following a two year stint at CKE Restaurants where he served as COO, then president, Bode spent nearly 12 years as the COO of Denny’s.
Prior to joining Denny’s in 2011, Bode spent 20 years in various operations and development roles at Dunkin. He succeeds Kelli Valade, who served as CEO for nearly four years prior to stepping down at the beginning of this year to become chief executive of the Women's Foodservice Forum.
In January, Denny’s went private after being acquired by TriArtisan Capital Advisors, Treville Capital Group and Yadav Enterprises for $620 million.
"Chris is a transformational leader who understands the heart and soul of this brand and the discipline required to run a global franchise system," said Anil Yadav, chief transformation officer and interim CEO. "His ability to bridge the gap between high-level corporate strategy and 'boots-on-the-ground' execution is exactly what we need to accelerate our growth. We are fully aligned in our vision to make Denny’s the undisputed leader in the family dining space once again.”
Upon his promotion, Bode will lead Denny’s transformation with the launch of “Project Grand Slam,” a new, comprehensive 24-month strategic roadmap to modernize the business trajectory through “culinary innovation, digital transformation and a renewed commitment to operational excellence,” according to the company.
Denny’s will focus on several key pillars to evolve the guest experience and maximize brand reach, including culinary and flavor innovation, “America’s Diner 2.0” remodels, retail brand expansion, digital transformation and more.
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"I am honored to lead this iconic brand into its next chapter," said Bode. "As we’ve transitioned from a public to a private company, we’ve approached our path forward with real examination, real adjustments and a clearer focus on the things that actually move performance in our restaurants. We are operating in a difficult economic environment, but private ownership gives us more freedom to look at the business honestly, move faster where change is needed and make adjustments quickly. I am confident that we have the right plan in place to emerge as real winners.”
As of Sept. 24, 2025, the Denny’s brand consisted of approximately 1,460 global restaurants. This includes more than 160 restaurants in Canada, Costa Rica, Curacao, El Salvador, Guam, Guatemala, Honduras, Indonesia, Mexico, New Zealand, the Philippines, Puerto Rico, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
