Yum! Brands names company veteran as CEO of KFC
A fried chicken restaurant giant has a new incoming chief executive.
Yum! Brands, Inc., the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Habit Burger & Grill, has announced the promotion of Scott Mezvinsky to KFC Division CEO. He will report to CEO David Gibbs, effective March 1.
Mezvinsky, a 20-year veteran of the company who has served as president of Taco Bell North America and International since December 2023, will succeed Sabir Sami, who is stepping down as KFC CEO at the end of February 2025. Mezvinsky will assume global responsibility for driving the brand strategy and performance of KFC.
“Scott is one of Yum! Brands’ most respected leaders, with more than 20 years of experience with the company in areas including operations, strategy, finance and development and a strong track record of delivering impactful results,” said Gibbs. “In his most recent role as president of Taco Bell North America and International, Scott has helped implement Taco Bell’s well-known bold and exciting ideas and ensured that global restaurant teams and customers have an industry-leading experience. He is a natural choice to lead KFC’s long-term global growth strategies, working in close partnership with our franchisees.”
[READ MORE: KFC names new chief marketing, development officer]
Prior to his most recent role, Mezvinsky was Taco Bell’s global chief strategy & financial officer, leading the finance, development and strategy functions. Since joining Yum! Brands in 2004, Mezvinsky held various roles at KFC and Yum!, including general manager (GM) of KFC Iberia, and roles in the KFC Latin America and Caribbean market, including chief development officer and VP of development and operations.
“It is a tremendous honor to lead an iconic brand such as KFC and have the opportunity to work with talented, dedicated leaders and franchise partners around the world,” Mezvinsky said. “There aren’t many brands that are as well loved and well known as KFC, and I am very excited to play a role in continuing to strengthen and accelerate the growth of this legendary brand in virtually every corner of the world.”
Sabir Sami has been CEO of the KFC Division since January 2022 and has held executive positions with Yum! Brands since 2009, including KFC Division chief operating officer and managing director of KFC Asia, managing director for the KFC Middle East, North Africa, Pakistan and Turkey markets, and GM of Yum! Canada and GM of the KFC Canada and Turkey businesses.
“I would like to thank Sabir for his years of service and dedication to Yum! Brands and KFC, and the meaningful impact he has had on our business,” said Gibbs. “He is a highly respected leader in our company and the industry whose focus on strategic brand building and operations has helped elevate the KFC brand around the world. We wish him well as he enjoys this new phase of life with his family.”
Known for its fried chicken featuring a list of 11 secret herbs and spices, KFC operates more than 30,000 restaurants in 150 countries and territories around the world. Yum! Brands, Inc., based in Louisville, Ky., and its subsidiaries franchise or operate a system of over 60,000 restaurants in more than 155 countries and territories.
