Wendy's Appoints Ken Cook As Interim CEO Following Kirk Tanner's Departure
Wendy's has appointed Ken Cook as interim CEO following Kirk Tanner's decision to join The Hershey Company as CEO.
The Wendy's Company announced that Kirk Tanner, its current President and CEO, will leave the company to assume the role of President and CEO at The Hershey Company. Tanner's departure from Wendy's is effective July 18, 2025. In response, Wendy's Board of Directors has initiated a search for a permanent CEO.
Ken Cook, who currently serves as Wendy's Chief Financial Officer, has been appointed as interim CEO. Cook will continue in his role as CFO while leading the company on an interim basis. Cook has been instrumental in shaping Wendy's long-term growth strategy. Before joining Wendy's, he spent two decades at United Parcel Service, Inc., where he held various positions, including Head of Financial Planning and Analysis and CFO for the U.S. Domestic segment.
In addition to the leadership changes, Wendy's announced that Bradley G. Peltz has been elected to the company's Board of Directors. He replaces Matthew H. Peltz, who has resigned to focus on other commitments. Bradley Peltz is a Managing Director of Yellow Cab Holdings, a Wendy's franchisee operating restaurants in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
