Hooters of America (HOA Brands LLC) promoted Cheryl Whiting-Kish to be the company’s first chief people officer, the chain announced on Monday.
Kish most recently served as senior vice president of organizational effectiveness and development for the Atlanta-based brand with more than 400 units for the past two years.
“Cheryl is developing the next generation of leaders and driving organic growth across our brands, and we are thrilled to promote her to this new post,” said HOA Brands LLC president and CEO Sal Melilli in a statement. “Cheryl has risen to the challenge again and again, helping achieve milestones and opportunities for our staff around the world, and we are grateful to continue to collaborate on the very best culture we can create.”
Kish has worked several jobs within the company, starting as a Hooters Girl and becoming the company’s first woman promoted to vice president in 1997.
Kish said some of her proudest milestones include serving as company spokesperson and addressing journalists at the D.C. Press Club about the legal “bona fide occupational qualification” precedent protecting Hooters Girls as a central concept of the business.
“This role, in a company I love, allows me to give back, make a difference and to celebrate, elevate, and empower our people,” Kish said in a statement. “Our mission is to provide a platform that enables others to be as successful as possible while they are working with us and to help prepare them for career growth within and or life beyond the brand. This new position is an opportunity to continually build our business by working directly with colleagues who bring our brand to life each and every day.”
