AFC Enterprises, Inc. has appointed Kenneth Keymer, the president Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits, as CEO effective Sept. 1.
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| Ken Keymer |
Keymer, 57, a 25-year restaurant industry veteran will succeed Frank Belatti, AFC founder, who will continue as the chairman of the AFC’s board of directors. Keymer will remain president of Popeyes.
Keymer has served as Popeye’s president since 2004. Before joining the company, Keymer served as co-CEO and a member of the board of directors of Noodles & Company. He also held top positions at Taco Bell, Boston Chicken—now known as Boston Market— and Perkins Family Restaurants.
“Ken is a highly regarded with an impressive track record of growing brands through his extensive operational and strategic experiences,” Belatti said in a statement. “Popeyes continues to benefit from Ken’s sector expertise, proven commitment to franchisees and overall business success. We have great confidence in his ability to lead the company into the future.”
In accepting the position, Keymer said, “I look forward to working closely with Frank and the board to continue making Popeyes a highly differentiated brand with significant growth opportunities.”
Belatti founded AFC in 1992. Under his leadership, Belatti helped the company acquire Cinnabon and Seattle Coffee Company in 1998.
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