KFC Leader Kevin Hochman to Become CEO of Chili’s

Marketplace veteran Kevin Hochman is leaving his write-up as KFC U.S.’ president and main strategy officer to turn out to be CEO of Chili’s and Maggiano’s guardian Brinker International. 

Hochman, whose appointment is helpful June 6, will change retiring CEO Wyman Roberts, who will provide in an advisory function for 12 months. 

Hochman joined Yum! Brands in January 2014 as CMO of KFC U.S. He served in that purpose until finally 2017, when he was appointed president and main concept officer. From December 2019 to January 2022, he concurrently worked as president of Pizza Hut U.S. Prior to Yum!, Hochman expended extra than 18 years at Procter & Gamble in several brand name management and promoting roles. 

“I am honored to be appointed Brinker’s president and CEO and enjoy the assistance of Wyman and the Board,” Hochman stated in a statement. “I’ve been incredibly amazed with our functions and technological know-how and see huge potential for growing our legendary Chili’s and Maggiano’s brand names. Brinker’s mission is about generating men and women come to feel particular, and that’s something I’ve experimented with to do in the course of my vocation. I appear ahead to doing the job with our Brinker crew to accelerate development by making lasting and far more repeated connections with our visitors and crew members.”

Go through Far more: How Kevin Hochman led a important comeback at Pizza Hut

KFC has seen 8 straight many years of optimistic same-store gross sales, a streak that began when Hochman joined the business in 2014. In 2021, U.S. comps climbed 13 per cent on a two-year foundation, and digital revenue skyrocketed 70 % yr-more than-yr, fueled by shipping and a lately launched e-commerce platform. The rooster chain also opened a net of four domestic models past calendar year, which marked the chain’s 1st year of positive device enhancement in 17 yrs. KFC is anticipated to see net unit advancement all over again in 2022, with 25 per cent of the pipeline becoming Subsequent-Gen dining establishments. 

Hochman was responsible for the “Re-Colonelization” approach that infused existence into the model, as opposed to shaking matters up and beginning over. The firm invested 100,000 hrs of schooling on “colonel standards” and introduced KFC’s high-quality back to the degree people remembered.

At the very same time, Hochman guided Pizza Hut through its changeover into a mostly supply/takeout business, which means a significant makeover of the domestic footprint. The chain’s U.S. small business closed a internet of 13 units in 2021, a stark advancement from the internet of 745 closures in 2020—proof that the transformation is in close proximity to completion. U.S. comps grew 9 percent in 2021 on a two-calendar year stack. 

“Immediately after an extended look for for a successor, the Board is delighted to have Kevin provide as Brinker’s subsequent CEO,” Joe DePinto, chairman of Brinker’s board, stated in a assertion. “Kevin is a talented chief and impressive thinker with strategic vision, passion and a effective monitor document of making makes. We are self-confident he will produce shareholder price and manage the company’s tradition as we perform to bring Chili’s, Maggiano’s and our digital models to even much more Visitors.”

Wyman Roberts has served as president and CEO of Brinker because 2013 and in many other roles—president of Chili’s, CMO of Brinker, president of Maggiano’s—since August 2005. 

Beneath Roberts, Chili’s adjusted to COVID’s curveball by launching virtual brand It can be Just Wings in extra than 1,000 areas nationwide simultaneously—the one-premier roll out of a virtual model to-day. The chain’s off-premises channel continues to be far more than 200 p.c over pre-pandemic comparisons, many thanks to its escalating shipping and delivery enterprise. The relaxed-eating giant’s very same-store sales elevated 10.3 p.c year-in excess of-yr in Q3, and typical weekly income per restaurant was $58,700, which surpasses 2019 figures. 

Roberts also oversaw the introduction of a new Team Company Evolution labor design and the testing of a robotic waiter to make improvements to performance in the entrance of property. 

“Given that starting with Brinker 17 several years back, I have been inspired by the enthusiasm for earning Friends really feel distinctive that our ChiliHeads, Maggiano’s Teammates and BrinkerHeads carry to our places to eat just about every single working day,” Roberts stated in a statement. “It has been a privilege to direct and be a section of this excellent firm. I am amazed with Kevin’s character and leadership competencies, and I look ahead to looking at him just take our enterprise to the following level of results as we make this changeover.”