UPS veteran to become Wendy's finance chief
The Wendy’s Company is adding talent from outside the restaurant industry to its C-suite.
Ken Cook will serve as CFO of the company, effective Dec. 2, and will report to president and CEO Kirk Tanner. Cook will succeed Gunther Plosch who has served as CFO since 2016 and will depart Wendy’s at the end of the year after a transition with Cook.
Cook most recently served as head of financial planning and analysis at United Parcel Service (UPS), and joins Wendy's with 20 years of experience in roles with increasing responsibility across the company.
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"Driving operational performance and improving restaurant profitability are critical to our growth trajectory," said Tanner. "Ken will play a key role across our initiatives to increase revenue and expand margins as we enter the next phase of growth in the U.S. and around the globe, helping to unlock value for our shareholders. I want to thank Gunther Plosch for his work to improve our system's financial foundations and processes that have created a stronger organization and positioned us to build momentum."
In prior roles at UPS, Cook served as CFO for the U.S. domestic segment, leading the financial planning and execution for the company's largest business unit, and previously held leadership roles in investor relations and treasury, along with more than three years as the CFO of South Asia.
"I am excited for the opportunity to lead the finance organization of Wendy's as this iconic brand embarks on an accelerated growth journey," said Cook. "I look forward to working with the talented Wendy's system and franchise community to drive profitable growth for our restaurants, teams and shareowners."
Founded in 1969, Wendy’s operates more than 7,000 restaurants worldwide.